I  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY,  | 
f  Princeton,  N.  J.  1 


1|        Case, '  Dws\6o -4|- 

p>         '*>''' <^'/?  Section....  "l|' 

BR  1607 Tf67  1843   v. 2 
Foxe,  John,  1516-1587. 
The  English  martyrology 
abridged  from  Fox 


THE 

ENGLISH  MARTYROLOCIY 

ABRIDGED  FROM  FOX, 

BY    CHARLOTTE    ELIZABETH.  yo'V^VNCv.. 

"  HEES      IS     THE     PATIBNCK      AND     FAITH     OF     THE     SAIHTS." 

IN  TWO  VOLUMES. 
VOL.     II. 


PHILADELPHIA: 
PRESBYTERIAN  BOARD  OF  PUBLICATION. 

PAUL   T.    JONES,    PUBLISHING    AGENT. 

1843. 


ENGE-AVINGS. 


VOLUME  II. 


The  Degradation  of  Ridley, face  Title. 

Philpot  in  Newgate,     piig^      94 

Cranmer's  Confession,     "       125 

The  Bund  Boy  at  Gloucester, •  .      "       143 


Printed  by 

WM.    S.    MARTIEN. 


Stereotyped  by  s.  douqlas  wyeth, 
\o.  7  Pear  St.,  Philadelphia. 


">  *«  Board  bv  the  ,ibe„,i  '  ™«  '""  P-^->'e<i 

moderaie  price.  <-lir,si,a„  p„(,|jc  3,  ^  ^^^^, 


CONTENTS  OF  VOLUME  II. 


CHAPTER  I. 
Bishops  Ridley  and  Latimer,  .  .  *  .  5 

CHAPTER  II. 

fiisliops  Ridley  and  Latimer,  -  -  -  -  21 

CHAPTER  IIL 

Bishops  Ridley  and  Latimer,  ....  43 

CHAPTER  IV. 
Winchester's  death — Martyrs — John  Philpot,  -  •  56 

CHAPTER  V. 

John  Philpot,  ----..  82 

CHAPTER  VI. 
Archbishop  Cranmer,  -  .  -  .  .         106 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Fierce  persecutions  and  numerous  Martyrdoms,      -  .         127 

3 


4  CONTENTS. 

PAoa. 
CHArTER  VIII. 

Julius  Palmer,  ......         156 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Persecutions — Joan  Waste  and  others — Prisoners  famished 
— Visitation  of  Cambridge — Bucer  and  Phagius — More 
Martyrdoms,         -  -  .  .  -  .177 

CHAPTER  X. 

Gratwick— Allen— Other  Martyrs,     -  .  •  .  .       201 

CHAPTER  XL 
Ricliard  Woodman,  .....        220 

CHAPTER  XII. 

Various  Martyrdoms,  .....         252 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

The  filling  up  of  the  measure  of  iniquities  in  Mary's  reign,         278 

CHAPTER  XV. 

The  cup  brimmed  and  the  Church  delivered,  .  .      299 


PEiiu; 


ENGLISH   MARTYROLOGY. 


■  CHAPTER  I. 

BISHOFS    RIDLEY    AND    LATIMER. 

Man  is  a  polluted  being:  his  best  righteousnesses  are  as 
filthy  rags  ;  and  whatever  degree  of  relative  and  compara- 
tive holiness  he  may  exhibit  among  his  fellow  men,  not  one 
of  our  race  ever  did  or  ever  can  take  his  stand  before  the 
throne  of  God,  until  washed  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb  from 
innumerable  sins  and  defilements.  It  is  especially  needful 
to  bear  this  truth  in  mind,  when  dwelling  on  the  Acts  and 
Monuments  of  our  blessed  martyrs.  God,  for  his  own 
glory  and  praise,  endued  many  of  them  with  such  singular 
gifts  and  grace,  that  we  are  in  danger  of  overlooking  what 
they  never  forgot ;  and  while  they,  in  the  act  of  giving  their 
tortured  bodies  to  the  burning  flames  for  their  Lord's  sake, 
uttered  their  last  breath  in  supplications  for  mercy,  abhor- 
ring the  very  idea  of  merit,  and  knowing  that  the  reward 
was  reckoned  unto  them  not  of  debt  but  of  grace,  we,  look- 
ing only  on  that  which  God  effectually  wrought  in  them, 
are  in  peril  of  forgetting  that  all  the  praise  must  be  to  the 
glory  of  his  grace. 

We  now,  thus  guarded,  enter  upon  the  story  of  one  of 
these  vessels  of  mercy,  in  whose  life  and  death  the  Lord 
was  pleased  alike  to  magnify  himself.  Dr.  Nicholas  Rid- 
ley was  a  native  of  Northumberland,  born  of  an  ancient 
and  honourable  family,  and  distinguished  from  childhood 
by  great  aptness  and  dexterity  in  learning.  Being  early 
sent  to  Cambridge,  he  soon  became  famous  for  his  profi- 
ciency in  all  knowledge,  and  was  rapidly  promoted  to  the 
higher  functions  of  the  university,  obtaining  the  degree  of 
doctor  in  divinity,  and  the  headship  of  Pembroke  Hall.  He 
then  travelled  on  the  continent,  visited  Paris,  and  on  his 
return  was  made  chaplain  to  king  Henry  VIIL,  who  shortly 

1+  5 


b  BISHOP    RIDLEY. 

promoted  him  to  the  bishopric  of  Rochester;  whence  he  was 
translated  to  that  of  London,  by  good  king  Edward. 

Such  was  bishop  Ridley  in  the  exercise  of  his  pastoral 
functions,  so  diligent,  so  laborious,  so  devoted,  in  preach- 
ing the  true  doctrine  of  Christ,  that,  as  Fox  observes,  never 
good  child  was  more  singularly  loved  of  his  dear  parents, 
than  he  of  his  flock  and  diocese.  Every  Sunday  and  holi- 
day he  preached  to  them  in  some  place  or  other,  unless  un- 
avoidably prevented ;  and  wheresoever  his  sermon  was 
delivered,  thither  the  people  resorted,  swarming  round  him 
like  bees,  coveting  the  sweet  flowei's  and  wholesome  juice 
of  the  iruitful  doctrine  which  he  not  only  preached  but  ex- 
hibited in  the  v/liole  course  of  his  life.  He  was  so  blame- 
less and  harmless,  shining  as  a  light  in  the  dark  world, 
that  no  one  could  fasten  a  reproach  upon  him.  His  learn- 
ing was  very  great,  his  reading  extensive,  and  his  memory 
such  as  to  rank  him  among  the  first  of  our  sages  and 
divines.  Of  this  his  sermons  and  disputations  afford  proof; 
nor  did  his  worst  enemies  deny  it. 

To  all  this  he  added  great  wisdom  in  counsel,  sharpness 
of  wit,  and  deep  political  knowledge.  In  winning  souls 
from  error,  his  custom  was  ever  to  use  the  greatest  gentle- 
ness and  tenderness:  he  delighted  in  mercy;  and  when, 
during  Edward's  reign,  an  obstinate  opposer.  Heath,  who 
had  been  suspended  from  his  archbishopric  in  York,  was 
committed  to  Ridley's  care  for  twelve  months,  the  kindness 
and  courtesy  of  the  good  bishop  towards  his  refractory  guest 
sufficiently  bespoke  the  principle  of  universal  love  which 
reigned  in  his  heart,  and  ruled  his  life.  But  the  most  remark- 
able instance  of  this,  rendered  more  striking  by  the  infa- 
mous requital  he  experienced,  was  his  conduct  to  the  aged 
mother  of  Bonner.  She  dwelt  in  a  house  adjoining  the 
bishop's  palace  at  Fulham,  and  invariably,  at  the  hour 
of  dinner  and  supper.  Dr.  Ridley  would  say,  "  Go  for  my 
mother  Bonner."  A  chair  was  reserved  for  her  at  the 
head  of  his  table,  and  from  that  she  was  never  displaced : 
even  when,  as  was  often  the  case,  some  of  the  king's  coun- 
cil dined  with  him,  the  bishop  would  say,  "  By  your  lord- 
ship's favour,  this  place,  of  right  and  custom,  is  for  my  mo- 
ther Bonner."  In  every  respect,  he  treated  her  as  though 
she  had  been  his  own  parent ;  and  to  her  daughter  Mrs. 
Mungey,  Bonner's  sister,  he  extended  the  same  hospitality, 
with  all  brotherly  love  and  respect.  In  frightful  contrast 
to  this  appears  Bonner's  extreme  cruelty  to  the  sister  of  Dr. 


BISHOP    RIDLEY.  7 

Ridley,  whom,  with  her  husband,  he  stripped  of  every  pos- 
session, and  sought  with  rancorous  malice  the  life  of  the 
latter,  George  Shipside.  What  recompense  Ridley  himself 
received  at  Bonner's  hands  may  appear  from  the  course 
of  his  story.  Never  did  tiger  more  insatiably  thirst  for  the 
blood  of  his  prey,  than  Bonner  for  that  of  Ridley.  AVell 
might  the  good  bishop  adopt  the  language  of  the  Psalmist, 
"  For  the  love  that  I  bare  unto  them,  they  now  take  my 
contrary  part." 

The  more  we  examine  the  character  of  Ridley,  the  darker 
appears  their  enmity.  He  was  in  every  way  formed  to 
command  the  love  and  respect  of  his  fellow  men.  In  per- 
son and  features  most  comely  and  pleasing ;  gentle,  cheer- 
ful, and  forgiving  an  offence  as  soon  as  it  was  committed 
against  him.  To  his  kindred  most  kind  ;  but  never  allow- 
ing natural  affection  to  deaden  his  keen  sense  of  right  and 
wrong.  .  He  gave  it  as  a  general  rule  to  his  own  brother 
and  sister,  that  if  at  any  time  they  did  evil,  they  must  look 
for  nothing  further  at  his  hand :  they  would  become  as 
strangers  and  aliens  to  him,  while  such  as  lived  an  honest 
and  godly  life  should  be  considered  his  brother  and  sister 
in  their  stead — so  jealous  was  he  for  the  honour  of  that 
gospel  which  his  own  life  adorned. 

He  loved  to  mortify  his  flesh ;  and  lived  much  in  prayer 
and  contemplation.  Every  morning,  when  dressed,  he  de- 
voted half  an  hour  to  secret  prayer;  then  went  to  his  study, 
where  he  continued  till  ten  o'clock,  the  hour  at  which  the 
morning  service  of  the  liturgy  was  regularly  attended  by 
all  his  household.  After  this,  he  went  to  dinner,  not  talk- 
ing much  ;  but  in  what  he  said,  sober,  discreet,  and  wise  ; 
and  often  merry.  Dinner  was  soon  removed,  and  then  he 
allowed  an  hour  at  the  table,  in  conversation  or  chess ;  after 
which,  if  not  called  to  attend  suitors,  or  other  business,  he 
would  return  to  his  study  until  five,  when  the  household 
were  again  summoned  to  the  evening  service  of  the  church. 
Supper  followed ;  then  another  hour  at  chess,  of  which  he 
appears  to  have  been  fond  ;  and  again  to  his  study  until 
eleven,  when,  after  another  half  hour  passed  on  his  knees, 
he  retired  to  rest.  This  was  his  daily  course ;  and  at  Ful- 
ham  he  also  expounded  to  his  family,  in  order,  the  Acts 
and  Epistles :  a  portion  every  day.  To  each  one  who 
could  read,  he  gave  a  copy  of  the  Scriptures,  encouraging 
them  by  rewards  to  commit  the  word  of  God  to  memory. 
The  thirteenth  chapter  of  the  Acts  was  a  favourite  portion 


O  BISHOP    RIDLEY. 

with  him,  and  the  hundred  and  first  psahn,  which  he  very 
frequently  read  to  his  family,  labouring  to  make  them  a 
pattern  of  honesty  and  virtuous  living.  Jesus  Christ  was 
the  food  of  his  soul ;  and  with  that  food  he  desired  that  all 
about  him  should  be  nourished  to  eternal  life. 

He  had  been  first  converted  to  the  truth  by  means  of  a 
book  on  the  sacrament,  written  by  Bertram;  and  greatly 
confirmed  therein  by  conference  with  Cranmer  and  Peter 
Martyr,  As,  in  his  Ibrmer  ignorance,  he  had  been  zealous, 
so  was  he  now  faithful  and  constant  in  upholding  true  doc- 
trine, and  very  extensive  good  was  wrought  through  his 
means,  in  the  church,  while  the  authority  of  external  power 
upheld  its  peace,  and  defended  the  proceedings  of  those 
who  loved  the  gospel.  But  when  it  pleased  God  to  call 
away  that  precious  prince,  king  Edward,  the  English 
church  was  left  desolate ;  a  prey  to  the  enemy's  hate ;  and 
after  the  coming  in  of  Mary,  this  excellent  bishop  Ridley 
was  among  the  first  on  whom  they  laid  hands,  and  com- 
mitted to  prison.  To  the  tower  he  was  conveyed,  and  there 
confined  until,  as  has  before  been  stated,  he  was  sent,  with 
Cranmer  and  Latimer  to  Oxford,  and  all  were  enclosed  in 
the  common  gaol,  called  Bocardo,  for  a  time.  They  were 
then  separated,  and  bishop  Ridley  was  committed  to  the 
custody  of  a  man  named  Irish,  where  he  remained  to  the 
day  of  his  martyrdom. 

Many  were  the  letters  written  by  this  excellent  prelate 
during  his  captivity.  Some  were  addressed  to  individuals ; 
others  to  those  imprisoned  for  Christ's  sake,  and  to  the 
afflicted  church  generally.  Nothing  can  exceed  the  energy 
with  which  he  denounces  the  antichristian  religion  of  Rome, 
or  the  earnestness  of  his  exhortations  to  courage  and  con- 
stancy in  the  holy  warfare  of  Christ's  people  against  the 
abominations  of  great  Babylon.  Yet  the  gentleness  of 
Ridley's  spirit  never  failed  to  shine  forth  even  in  the  midst 
of  his  most  awful  warnings.  He  thus  concludes  a  letter 
to  his  fellow  captives,  wherein  he  had  drawn  a  faithful  por- 
trait of  popery,  working  against  God's  people.  "  On  their 
part  our  Saviour  Christ  is  evil  spoken  of;  but  on  your  part 
he  is  glorified.  For  what  can  they  else  do  unto  you  by 
persecuting  you,  and  working  all  cruelty  and  villany 
against  you,  but  make  your  crowns  more  glorious,  yea, 
beautify  and  multiply  the  same,  and  heap  upon  themselves 
the  horrible  plagues  and  heavy  wrath  of  God  :  and  there- 
fore, good  brethren,  though  they  rage   never  so  fiercely 


BISHOP   RIDLEY.  9 

against  us,  yet  let  us  not  wish  evil  unto  them  again  ;  know- 
ing that  whiles  for  Christ's  sake  they  vex  and  persecute  us, 
they  are  like  madmen,  most  outrageous  and  cruel  against 
themselves,  heaping  hot  burning  coals  upon  their  own 
heads:  but  rather  let  us  wish  well  unto  them,  knowing  that 
we  are  thereunto  called  in  Christ  Jesus,  that  we  should  be 
heirs  of  the  blessing.  Let  us  pray,  therefore,  unto  God, 
that  he  would  drive  out  of  their  hearts  this  darkness  of 
errors,  and  make  the  light  of  his  truth  to  shine  unto  them, 
that  they,  acknowledging  their  blindness,  may  with  all 
humble  repentance  be  converted  unto  the  Lord,  and  together 
with  us  confess  him  to  be  the  only  true  God,  which  is  the 
Father  of  light,  and  his  only  Son  Jesus  Christ,  worshipping 
him  in  spirit  and  verity;  Amen.  The  Spirit  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  comfort  your  hearts  in  the  love  of  God,  and 
patience  of  Christ.     Amen." 

One  more  specimen  must  be  given ;  it  is  an  outpouring 
of  the  bishop's  very  heart  to  his  dear  friend  John  Brad- 
ford, then  about  to  suffer  for  the  truth's  sake,  and  expect- 
ing to  be  sent  for  that  purpose  into  Lancashire,  his  birth- 
place. 

"  Oh,  dear  brother,  seeing  the  time  is  now  come,  where- 
in it.pleaseth  the  heavenly  Father  for  Christ  our  Saviour's 
sake,  to  call  upon  you,  and  to  bid  you  to  come,  happy 
are  you  that  ever  you  were  born,  thus  to  be  found  awake 
at  the  Lord's  calling.  Well  done,  good  and  faithful  ser- 
vant ;  because  thou  hast  been  trusty  in  small  matters,  he 
shall  set  thee  over  great  things,  and  thou  shalt  enter  into 
the  joy  of  thy  Lord. 

"  0  dear  brother,  what  meaneth  this,  that  you  are  sent 
into  your  own  native  country?  The  wisdom  and  policy  of 
the  world  may  mean  what  they  will,  but  I  trust  God  will 
so  order  the  matters  finally  by  his  fatherly  providence,  that 
some  great  occasion  of  God's  gracious  goodness  shall  be 
plentii'ully  poured  among  his,  our  dear  brethren,  in  that 
country,  by  this  your  martyrdom.  Whence  the  martyrs 
for  Christ's  sake  shed  their  blood,  and  lost  their  lives,  oh 
what  wondrous  things  has  Christ  afterwards  wrought  for 
his  glory  and  confirmation  of  their  doctrine  !  If  it  be  not 
the  place  that  sanctifieth  the  man,  but  the  holy  man  doth 
by  Christ  sanctify  the  place,  brother  Bradford,  then  happy 
and  holy  shall  be  that  place  wherein  thou  shalt  suffer,  and 
shall  be  with  thy  ashes,  in  Christ's  cause,  sprinkled  over 
withal.     All  thy  country  may  rejoice  in  thee,  that  ever  it 


10  BISHOP    LATIMER. 

brought  forth  such  a  one,  which  would  render  his  life  again 
in  his  cause  of  whom  he  had  received  it.  Brother  Bradford, 
so  long  as  I  shall  understand  thou  art  in  thy  journey,  by 
God's  grace  I  shall  call  upon  our  heavenly  Father,  for 
Christ's  sake,  to  set  thee  safely  home :  and  then,  good  bro- 
ther, speak  you,  and  pray  for  the  remnant  which  are  to 
suffer  for  Christ's  sake,  according  to  that  thou  then  shalt 
know  more  clearly. 

"  We  do  look  now  every  day  when  we  shall  be  called 
on,  blessed  be  God,  I  ween  I  am  the  weakest,  many  ways, 
of  our  company;  and  yet  I  thank  our  Lord  God,  and  hea- 
venly Father,  by  Christ,  that  since  I  heard  of  our  dear  bro- 
ther Rogers'  departing,  and  stout  confession  of  Christ  and 
his  truth  even  unto  the  death,  my  heart,  blessed  be  God, 
is  rejoiced  of  it,  that  since  that  time  I  never  felt  any 
lumpish  heaviness  in  my  heart,  as  I  grant  I  have  felt 
sometimes  before.  Oh  good  brother,  blessed  be  God  in 
thee ;  and  blessed  be  the  time  that  ever  I  knew  thee. 
Farewell,  farewell. 

"  Your  brother  in  Christ, 

"  Nicholas  Ridley. 

"  Brother  farewell." 

Who  can  read  such  effusions  as  the  above,  addressed 
from  one  Christian  in  a  prison,  to  another  expecting  an  im- 
mediate, fiery  death,  without  emotion?  "  If  God  so  loved 
us,  we  ought  also  to  love  one  another,"  is  an  inspired  de- 
claration, to  which  no  believer  refuses  his  assent:  but  it  is 
among  those  who  are  called  to  suffer  indeed  for  Christ's 
sake  that  we  trace  the  deep  and  fervent  affection  springing 
from  a  full  appreciation  of  what  Christ  suffered  for  them. 
There  is  something  unspeakably  touching  in  the  reiteration 
of  that  endearing  word,  brother,  in  the  beautiful  letter  of 
bishop  Ridley;  and  the  repeated  farewell,  in  reference  to  a 
parting,  painful  indeed  to  flesh,  but  promising  a  speedy,  a 
rejoicing  and  an  eternal  reunion  before  the  throne  of  God 
and  of  the  Lamb.  Would  tliat  we  drank  more  deeply  into 
the  spirit  of  our  blessed  martyrs  !  If  we  knew  more  of  the 
cross,  which  we  are  so  unwilling  to  take  up,  we  should 
have  clearer  and  brighter  views  of  the  crown  to  which  it 
IS  the  appointed  way. 

We  now  proceed  to  the  story  of  Ridley's  companion,  that 
eminent  servant  and  true  soldier  of  Christ,  Hugh  Lati- 
mer, bishop  of  Worcester.     His  father  was  a  respectable 


BISHOP    LATIMER.  11 

yeoman  in  Leicestershire;  and  he  being  the  only  surviving 
son,  with  six  daughters,  and  displaying  at  the  age  of  four 
years  remarkable  talents,  his  parents  resolved  to  give  him 
a  literary  education ;  such  as  the  common  schools  of  the 
country  could  afford.  So  well  did  he  profit  by  it,  that  at 
fourteen  he  entered  at  Cambridge,  where,  after  exercising 
himself  in  various  things,  he  settled  to  the  study  of  such 
school  divinity  as  the  darkness  of  that  ignorant  age  ad- 
mitted. 

Latimer  was  then  most  zealously  devoted  to  the  Romish 
relio-ion ;  and  so  scrupulously  exact  in  its  services,  that  as 
he  afterwards  confessed,  he  used  to  think,  when  officiating 
as  a  priest,  he  could  never  mingle  his  massing  wine  and 
water  enough ;  or  pay  sufficient  attention  to  the  observances 
and  decrees  of  his  church.  Moreover,  he  was  convinced 
that  if  once  he  became  a  professed  friar,  his  soul  could 
never  be  lost.  Proportioned  to  this  blind  servility  to  erro- 
neous doctrines,  was  his  bitter  enmity  against  the  truth. 
The  gospel  and  those  who  professed  it,  were  the  object  of 
his  abhorrence ;  he  wrote  against  Philip  Melancthon,  and 
railed  perpetually  against  a  good  man  named  Stafford,  at 
that  time  lecturer  in  divinity  at  Cambridge ;  warning  the 
young  men  of  the  university  to  give  no  heed  to  his 
teaching. 

But  the  counsel  of  the  Lord  shall  stand,  and  he  will  do 
all  his  pleasure.  Latimer  was  a  chosen  vessel  unto  him ; 
and  when  the  time  arrived  for  taking  away  the  veil  from 
his  heart,  God  stirred  up  the  blessed  martyr  Thomas  Bil- 
ney  to  attempt  the  conversion  of  this  zealous  opposer.  The 
means  adopted  were  singular ;  Bilney  was  at  that  time 
working  cautiously  and  secretly,  trying  out  Satan's  subtil- 
ties,  and  undermining  the  kingdom  of  antichrist.  A  direct 
attack  on  the  prejudices  of  Latimer  would  not  have  been 
expedient;  but  Bilney,  touched  with  brotherly  love  and 
pity,  bethought  himself  of  a  beautiful  device.  He  came  to 
Latimer's  study,  asking  him  to  hear  his  confession,  to 
which  the  other,  of  course,  agreed  ;  and  Bilney  pouring  out 
of  the  fulness  of  a  truly  contrite  heart  and  sanctified  spi- 
rit such  things  as  had  never  before  entered  Latimer's  mind, 
he  was  by  the  gracious  operation  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  so 
touched,  that,  forsaking  at  once  the  study  of  the  school 
doctors,  and  other  such  idle  nonsense,  he  betook  himself 
zealously  to  true  divinity,  profiting  in  it  greatly;  forsaking 
his  former  way  of  caviling  and  railing,  for  quiet  and  dili- 


12  BISHOP    LATIMER. 

gent  conference  with  Bilney  and  others.  He  also  visited 
Mr.  Stafford,  and  besought  his  dying  forgiveness  of  all  the 
evil  he  had  ibrmerly  spoken  concerning  him.  But  Latimer 
did  not  stop  here  :  his  zeal,  mercifully  turned  into  a  right 
direction,  increased  with  his  light,  and  he  became  both  a 
pubHc  preacher  and  a  private  instructer  of  his  brethren,  in 
the  excellency  of  the  knowledge  of  Christ  Jesus.  With  the 
learned  he  conferred  in  Latin :  the  simple  and  vulgar  he 
delighted  to  teach  in  their  native  tongue;  and  thus,  for 
three  years,  he  laboured  in  the  university,  with  great  suc- 
cess. Satan,  however,  watchful  for  the  preservation  of 
his  kingdom,  did  not  long  leave  this  vigorous  assailant 
unopposed ;  but  stirred  up  some  of  his  own  brood  to  molest 
him. 

Latimer  had  preached  certain  sermons,  about  Christmas, 
1529,  in  the  churches  of  St.  Edward  and  St.  Augustine,  in 
Cambridge,  wherein,  alluding  to  the  common  usage  and 
games  of  the  season,  he  spiritualized  the  cards,  giving  the 
people,  instead  of  the  idle  sport  connected  with  them,  texts 
from  the  sermon  on  the  mount,  ingeniously  adapted  to  the 
different  suits  and  court  cards.  The  heart  he  named  a^ 
trump,  being  the  principal  thing  wherewith  they  should 
serve  God ;  overthrowing  all  hypocritical,  external  ser- 
vices, not  tending  to  the  furtherance  of  God's  word  and  sa- 
craments ;  and  the  better  to  attain  this  trump,  or  triumph, 
he  recommended  the  study  of  the  Scriptures  in  English, 
whereby  the  common  people  might  best  learn  their  duty  to 
God  and  to  their  neighbours.  This  quaint  device,  accord- 
ing well  with  the  habits  and  humour  of  the  times,  produced 
such  an  efl^ect,  that  a  certain  Augustine  friar  took  great 
umbrage  at  it,  as  well  he  might ;  for  Latimer  had  with  his 
trump  card,  the  heart,  effectually  swept  the  board  of  all 
others,  as  men's  traditions,  pardons,  pilgrimages,  ceremo- 
nies, vows,  devotions,  voluntary  works,  or  works  of  super- 
erogation, the  pope's  supremacy,  and  the  whole  host  of  tools 
belonging  to  the  craft  by  which  the  priests  of  Rome  have 
their  living.  He  also  showed  the  corruption  of  man's  na- 
ture, his  perpetual  offence  against  God  ;  repentance  wrought 
by  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  salvation  by  faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus, 
To  quiet  the  stir  occasioned  in  Cambridge  by  Latimer's 
cards,  the  prior  of  the  black  friars,  named  Buckenham, 
preached  upon  dice ;  and  taking  for  his  throw  a  cinque, 
and  a  quatre,  attempted  to  prove  from  five  places  in  the 
New  Testament,  and  from  four  doctors  of  his  church,  the 


BISHOP    LATIMER.  13 

inexpediency  of  allowing  the  common  people  to  study  Scrip- 
ture. Some  of  the  ill  effects  to  be  apprehended  from  so 
doing  were  these :  that  the  ploughman,  reading  in  the  gos- 
pel that  no  man  having  laid  his  hand  on  the  plough,  and 
looking  back,  is  fit  for  the  king  of  God,  might  perhaps 
cease  irom  ploughing.  The  baker,  when  he  heard  how  a 
little  leaven  corrupts  a  whole  lump  of  dough,  might  per- 
chance have  his  bread  unleavened,  to  the  disadvantage  of 
our  bodies.  A  simple  man,  too,  taking  literally  the  pre- 
cept, "If  thine  eye  offend  thee,  pluck  it  out,  and  cast  it 
from  thee,"  might  make  himself  blind,  and  so  fill  the  world 
with  beggars.  These  were  three  of  the  five  points  brought 
forward  by  the  learned  friar,  to  prove  the  danger  of  giving 
the  Bible  to  the  laity. 

Latimer,  hearing  this  curious  sermon  preached  in  the 
morning,  came  to  the  church  the  same  aflernoon,  for  the 
avowed  purpose  of  answering  it.  A  great  multitude  flocked 
to  hear  him  ;  not  only  of  doctors  and  under-graduates  from 
the  university,  but  of  all  classes  among  the  towns-people. 
In  the  midst,  right  opposite  to  the  pulpit,  and  close  before 
the  preacher,  friar  Buckenham  planted  himself,  his  black 
cowl  thrown  over  his  shoulders,  a  very  conspicuous  object, 
both  to  pastor  and  people.  Latimer  commenced  by  recit- 
ing the  friarly  reasons  of  Dr.  Buckenham,  and  then  in  a 
strain  of  powerful  argument  seasoned  with  no  little  humour 
and  keen  wit,  exposed  their  absurdity.  After  denying  the 
existence  of  such  danger  as  the  friar  apprehended,  he  de- 
manded, on  the  part  of  the  people,  that  at  least  the  reading 
of  the  Scriptures  should  be  allowed  them,  until  Englishmen 
became  so  mad,  that  the  ploughman  durst  not  look  behind 
him,  or  the  baker  leaven  his  bread.  He  then  proceeded  to 
explain  the  use  of  figurative  language  in  the  Bible  ;  declar- 
ing such  phrases  to  be  in  no  wise  difficult  to  understand ; 
and  that  they  abounded  not  only  in  the  Hebrew,  but  in 
every  speech  and  language;  metaphors  being  so  common, 
that  the  very  painters  placed  them  on  walls  and  houses. 
"  For  instance,"  said  he,  looking  full  at  the  friar  who  sat 
over  against  him,  "  when  they  paint  a  fox  preaching  out 
of  a  friar's  cowl,  none  is  so  mad  as  to  take  this  to  be  a  fox 
that  preacheth,  but  know  well  enough  the  meaning  of  the 
matter,  which  is  to  point  out  to  us  what  hypocrisy,  crafts, 
and  subtle  dissimulation  lieth  hid  many  times  in  these  fri- 
ars' cowls;  willing  us  thereby  to  beware  of  them,"  In  short, 
so  completely  was  the  poor  friar  put  to  shame,  that  he  was 

MARTYBOLOGY.— -VOL,  II.  2 


14  BISHOP    LATIMER. 

never  known  to  mount  a  pulpit  again  in  opposition  to  Lati- 
mer. There  was,  however,  another,  a  foreign  grey  friar, 
named  Venetus,  who,  in  his  sermons,  raged  and  railed 
against  Latimer,  calling  him  mad  and  brainless,  and  ex- 
horting the  people  not  to  give  heed  to  his  preaching.  To 
this  the  reformer  opposed  a  very  solemn  discourse  on  our 
Lord's  words.  Matt.  v.  21,  22,  showing  the  heinousness 
of  the  offence,  in  calling  a  brother  Raca,  or  fool.  He  then 
turned  to  other  scriptures,  to  prove  that  it  is  the  appointed 
lot  of  God's  true  people  to  be  accounted  fools  and  madmen, 
by  the  wise  of  this  world ;  and  setting  forth  the  contrast 
that  shall  appear,  when  they  who  now  revile  his  servants 
shall  be,  too  late,  convinced  that  the  folly  and  madness 
were  their  own.  This  he  declared  must  be  the  lot  of  such 
railers,  except  they  repented.  The  effect  of  this  answer 
was  to  drive  the  conscience-stricken  opposer  out  of  the  uni- 
versity. 

All  this,  as  may  well  be  supposed,  stirred  up  most  violent 
enmity  against  the  bold  reprover.  Fox  says,  after  enu- 
merating some  who  distinguished  themselves  by  their  open 
hostility,  "  almost  as  many  as  were  heads  there  of  houses, 
so  many  impugners  did  this  worthy  standard-bearer  of  the 
gospel  sustain."  At  length,  Dr.  West,  bishop  of  Ely, 
thought  fit  to  deliver  a  sermon  against  Latimer,  at  Bar- 
well  abbey;  and  to  prohibit  his  preaching  again  within  the 
churches  of  the  university.  It  was  then  that  Dr.  Barnes, 
at  that  time  prior  of  the  Augustines,  came  forward  in  aid 
of  the  Lord's  oppressed  cause.  He  not  only  licensed  Lati- 
mer to  preach  in  his  church,  but  himself  took  the  duty  in 
St.  Edward's,  on  the  same  day,  which  was  both  a  Sunday 
and  Christmas  day.  There,  for  the  first  lime,  did  Barnes 
set  forth  Jesus  Christ,  and  him  crucified,  as  the  sinner's 
only  hope ;  and  for  that  sermon  the  informations  were  laid 
against  him,  which  proved  the  beginning  of  his  troubles  in 
the  flesh,  gloriously  ending  in  the  crown  of  martyrdom. 

Notwithstanding  all  the  efforts  of  the  adversaries,  Lati- 
mer continued  to  preach  and  teach  Jesus  Christ  in  the  uni- 
versity, for  a  considerable  time.  His  chief  companion  was 
Bilney,  and  their  favourite  resort,  where  they  used  often  to 
walk,  and  to  take  sweet  counsel  together  in  the  fields,  was 
long  after  known  by  the  name  of  the  Heretics'  Hill.  An 
event  occurred  during  this  period  which  shows  these  holy 
men  no  less  zealous  in  following  His  steps  who  went  about 
doing  good,  than  they  were  in  denouncing,  as  vain  and  sin- 


BISHOP   LATIMJER.  15 

ful,  the  doctrine  that  would  attach  any  saving  merit  to  the 
best  of  human  works. 

Among  the  prisoners  confined  in  the  gaol  of  Cambridge, 
was  a  woman  charged  with  the  murder  of  her  child.  In 
the  course  of  their  charitable  visits  to  the  captives  they 
noticed  this  woman,  whose  denials  of  her  guilt  were  so 
strong  and  steadfast,  that  Latimer  and  Bilney  resolved  fully 
to  search  the  matter  out.  They  found  that  the  child  had 
been  sick  of  lingering  consumption,  for  a  year,  and  at  last 
died,  during  the  busiest  time  of  harvest,  so  that  when  she 
went  to  summon  help  from  her  neighbours  to  prepare  the 
child  for  its  burial,  not  one  was  at  home ;  and  she  was 
forced  to  set  about  the  melancholy  task  alone.  Her  hus- 
band, who  never  had  any  love  for  her,  coming  in  while  she 
was  thus  employed,  accused  her  of  murdering  the  child. 
On  his  wicked  and  cruel  charge  she  was  thrown  into  pri- 
son, and  condemned  to  die.  Having  fully  satisfied  himself 
of  her  innocence,  Latimer  took  advantage  of  being  called 
to  preach  before  Henry  VIIL,  at  Windsor,  and  of  the  kind- 
ness with  which  the  king  afterwards  discoursed  with  him, 
to  intercede  for  the  poor  creature.  He  kneeled  down,  rela- 
ted all  the  circumstances,  and  earnestly  craved  for  her  the 
royal  pardon ;  which  was  graciously  granted,  and  the  offi- 
cial notification  of  it  committed  to  Latimer.  In  the  mean 
time  the  poor  woman  gave  birth,  in  the  prison,  to  another 
child,  to  which  Latimer  stood  godfather;  but  all  the  while 
he  carefully  concealed  from  the  mother  the  good  news  that 
he  had  to  communicate,  hoping  that  if  in  any  way  she  was 
really  guilty,  the  extremity  of  her  circumstances,  looking 
forward  to  a  speedy  execution,  would  induce  her  to  confess 
it.  Instead  of  this,  the  only  weight  on  her  mind  seemed  to 
be  a  dreadful  fear  of  everlasting  perdition,  if  she  should  be 
brought  to  death  before  she  had  gone  through  the  rites  of 
purification,  as  ordained  in  the  popish  church;  and  most 
earnestly  did  she  implore  Latimer  to  administer  to  her  those 
rites.  He,  however,  and  Bilney,  took  occasion  from  these 
superstitious  apprehensions  to  preach  to  her  the  only  true 
purification  from  all  sin  and  uncleanness  in  the  atoning 
blood  of  Christ;  and  having  seen  her  brought  into  what 
they  considered  a  hopeful  state  of  mind,  they  showed  her 
the  king's  pardon,  and  restored  her  to  liberty. 

Many  such  acts  of  mercy  did  these  two  brothers  per- 
form ;  insomuch  that  they  were  greatly  remarked,  and,  of 
course,  roused  the  haters  of  the  truth  to  livelier  diligence 


16  BISHOP    LATIMEK. 

in  opposing  it.     Dr.   Redman  took   the   more   charitable 
course  of  trying  by  argument  to  win  Latimer  from  what 
he  supposed   erroneous    ways,   and  was  ably  answered; 
others  bestirred  themselves  in  preaching  and  writing  hard 
things  against  him,  until,  by  their  procurement,  he  was 
cited  to  appear  before  Warham,  archbishop  of  Canterbury, 
and  Stokesley,  bishop  of  London,  in  1531;  against  which 
citation  Latimer  appealed  to  his  ordinary,  but  was,  not- 
withstanding, taken   to  London,  where   he  underwent   a 
most   tedious  persecution,  being  obliged  to  appear  thrice 
every  week,  before  the  ignorant  and  bigoted  prelates,  to 
answer  a  long  string  of  charges  and  propositions.     Find- 
ing no  prospect  of  an  end  to  their  trifling,  and  that  they 
would  neither  preach  themselves  nor  sutler  him  to  do  his 
own  duty,  he  addressed  an  expostulatory  letter  to  one  of 
their  number.     How  he  escaped  the  devices  by  which  they 
constantly  sought  to  make  out  matter  of  more  serious  accu- 
sation against  him,  and  to  bring  his  life  into  jeopardy,  is 
not  exactly  known ;  but  as  Latimer,  at  a  later  period,  in 
adverting  to  the  snares  and  traps  to  which  he  was  then 
exposed,  makes  glad  mention  of  the  goodness  of  Almighty 
God  in  giving  him  wisdom  to  answer,  and  to  avoid  the 
dangers  then  besetting  him,  it  is  not  likely  that  he  swerved, 
in  any  wise,  from  his  usual  bold  and  honest  course;  or 
was  guilty  of  any  prevarication.     At  length  the  king  was 
led  to  show  him  such  favour  and  countenance,  that  his  ene- 
mies durst  no  further  molest  him;  and  being  also  greatly 
honoured  by  the  good  lord  Cromwell  and  Dr.  Butts,  he  was 
shortly  advanced  to  the  bishopric  of  Worcester. 

Here  Latimer  found  a  wide  field  for  the  exercise  of  his 
manifold  gifls ;  and  he  used  it  to  the  best  of  his  knowledge 
and  power.  As  a  faithful  and  vigilant  pastor,  he  instruct- 
ed his  flock  with  wholesome  doctrine,  confirmed  by  an  ex- 
ample of  perfect  conversation,  adding  thereto  all  the  exer- 
cises of  visiting,  exhorting,  correcting,  and  reforming,  as 
far  as  the  dangerous  and  variable  character  of  the  times 
would  admit.  Many  vain  superstitions  were  yet  enforced 
in  the  church,  which  he  had  not  power  to  do  away  with: 
he  therefore  directed  the  ministers  in  his  diocese  to  give  as 
spiritual  a  turn  as  they  could,  to  the  foolish  customs  of 
sprinkling  with  holy  water,  giving  holy  bread,  and  the  like, 
that  the  minds  of  the  people  might  be,  as  much  as  possible, 
weaned  from  placing  any  reliance  on  those  things.  The 
trouble  into  which  his  enemies  endeavoured  to  bring  him, 


BISHOP    LATIJIER.  17 

he  afterwards  related  in  a  sermon  preached  before  the 
young  king  Edward,  as  follows. 

"  In  the  king's  days  that  is  dead,  a  great  many  of  us 
were  called  together  before  him,  to  say  our  minds  in  cer- 
tain matters.  In  the  end  one  kneeleth  down  and  accuseth 
me  of  sedition :  and  that  I  had  preached  seditious  doctrine : 
a  heavy  salutation,  and  a  hard  point  of  such  a  man's  do- 
ing, as  if  I  should  name,  ye  would  not  think.  The  king 
turned  to  me  and  said,  "  What  say  you  to  that,  sir  ?" 

"  Then  I  kneeled  me  down,  and  turned  mc  first  to  my 
accuser,  and  required  him  ;  '  Sir,  what  form  of  preaching 
would  you  appoint  me,  in  preaching  before  a  king?  would 
you  have  me  preach  nothing  as  concerning  a  king  in  the 
king's  sermon?  have  you  any  commission  to  appoint  me 
what  I  shall  preach?"  Besides  this,  I  asked  him  divers 
other  questions,  and  he  would  make  no  answer  to  any  of 
them  all ;  he  had  nothing  to  say. 

"  Then  I  turned  me  to  the  king,  and  submitted  myself  to 
his  grace,  and  said, '  I  never  thought  myself  worthy,  nor  did 
I  ever  sue  to  be  a  preacher  before  your  grace,  but  I  was 
called  to  it,  and  would  be  willing  (if  you  mislike  me)  to 
give  place  to  my  betters;  for  I  grant  there  be  a  great  many 
more  worthy  of  the  room  than  I  am.  And  if  it  be  your 
grace's  pleasure  so  to  allow  them  for  preachers,  I  could  be 
content  to  bear  their  books  after  them.  But  if  your  grace 
all(DW  me  for  a  preacher,  I  would  desire  your  grace  to  give 
me  leave  to  discharge  my  conscience,  give  me  leave  to 
frame  my  doctrine  according  to  my  audience.  I  had  been 
a  very  dolt  to  have  preached  so  at  the  borders  of  your 
realm,  as  I  preach  before  your  grace." 

"  And  I  thank  Almighty  God  (which  hath  always  been 
my  remedy)  that  my  sayings  were  well  accepted  of  the 
king;  for  like  a  gracious  lord,  he  turned  unto  another  com- 
munication. It  is  even  as  the  Scripture  saith.  Cor  regis 
in  manu  Domini,  that  is,  '  The  Lord  directeth  the  king's 
heart.'  Certain  of  my  friends  came  to  me  with  tears  in 
their  eyes,  and  told  me  they  looked  I  should  have  been  in 
the  tower  the  same  night." 

The  character  of  Latimer,  simple,  faithful,  and  undaunt- 
ed, is  admirably  set  forth  in  the  preceding  extract;  which 
derives  additional  interest  from  having  been  uttered  in  the 
presence  of  Henry's  successor;  clearly  giving  the  royal 
hearer  to  understand  that  he  must  expect  the  like  plain- 
dealing,  at  his  preacher's  hands.     But  a  far  bolder  thing 

2  + 


18  BISHOP    LATIMEK. 

was  done  by  Lalimer,  and  such  as,  probably,  no  other  man 
in  the  kingdom  would  have  ventured  upon,  with  a  monarch 
like  Henry  the  Eighth.  An  old  Roman  custom  still  pre- 
vailed in  those  times,  of  each  bishop  in  the  realm  present- 
ing a  handsome  gift  to  the  king  on  New  Year's  day.  Some 
gave  rich  articles  of  gold  or  silver  plato,  some  a  well-filled 
purse;  each  endeavouring,  as  far  as  his  power  went,  to 
gratify  his  sovereign.  Among  the  rest  came  Latimer, 
bishop  of  Worcester,  and  presented  Henry  with  a  New 
Testament,  folded  in  a  napkin,  round  which  was  imprinted 
this  awful  warning,  from  the  twelfth  chapter  of  the  Epistle 
to  the  Hebrews,  "  Fornicators  and  adulterers  God  shall 
judge."  Thus,  exercising  the  functions  of  his  high  and 
holy  office,  reproving,  rebuking,  exhorting,  with  such  an 
abiding  fear  of  God  upon  him  as  utterly  cast  out  all  fear 
of  man,  this  good  bishop  walked  in  the  steps  of  Jeremiah, 
and  enjoyed  the  fulfilment  of  the  promise  given  to  the  pro- 
phet, "  Be  not  afraid  of  their  faces;  for  I  am  with  thee  to 
deliver  thee,  saith  the  Lord."  He  remained  unmolested, 
and  indeed  evidently  favoured  by  the  king;  until,  on  the 
enactment  of  the  iniquitous  six-articles  act,  he  saw  that  he 
must  either  lose  the  blessing  of  a  good  conscience,  or  re- 
sign his  bishopric.  He  chose  the  latter;  and  giving  up  the 
pastoral  charge,  in  which  he  was  imitated  also  by  Shaxton, 
bishop  of  Salisbury,  he  retired  into  private  life.  It  is  re- 
lated of  Latimer,  that  when,  among  friends  in  his  own 
chamber,  he  first  put  oif  his  episcopal  rochet,  he  gave  a 
skip  on  the  floor  for  joy,  feeling  his  shoulder  lightened,  as 
he  said,  of  so  heavy  a  burden.  That  weight  did  not  con- 
sist in  the  duties  of  an  office  which  he,  as  a  faithful  pastor 
loved;  but  in  the  burden  laid  on  his  conscience,  of  ad- 
herence to  the  many  superstitions  and  idolatrous  cus- 
toms retained  under  Henry's  nominal  reformation  of  the 
church. 

But,  "in  the  world  ye  shall  have  tribulation"  is  the  heri- 
tage of  God's  dear  people;  and  so  Latimer  found  it.  Scarcely 
had  he  disentangled  himself  from  the  snare  of  his  bishopric, 
when,  by  the  fall  of  a  tree,  he  was  so  bruised  and  injured, 
as  to  endanger  his  life,  occasioning  him  to  suffer  great 
bodily  pain  to  the  end  of  his  days.  Then,  coming  up  to 
London,  he  was  again  molested  by  the  bishops,  and  at  last, 
committed  to  the  tower,  where  he  remained,  until  the 
coming  in  of  blessed  king  Edward  opened  both  his  prison 
and  his  mouth.     During  the  short  reign  of  that  godly  young 


BISHOP    LATIMER.  19 

pnnce,  Lalimer  was  to  be  found  labouring  in  every  possi- 
ble way  for  the  promotion  of  undefiled  religion  throughout 
the  land.  Alike  in  his  own  diocese,  in  the  convocation- 
house,  and  at  court,  his  diligence  was  made  manifest.  In 
the  royal  garden,  which  in  Henry's  time  had  been  made 
the  scene  of  many  a  licentious  revel,  the  venerable  bishop 
would  assemble  the  king  and  all  his  court,  to  hear  the  doc- 
trine that  distilled  as  the  dew,  to  refresh  and  invigorate  all 
within  its  influence.  He  preached  twice  every  Sunday,  not- 
withstanding his  age,  then  sixty-seven,  and  the  effects  of 
his  severe  hurt.  Every  morning,  summer  and  winter,  he 
was  up  and  at  his  book  by  two  o'clock;  and  he  not  unfre- 
quently  travelled  to  other  parts  of  the  realm,  there  to  spread 
the  lio-ht  of  divine  knowledo-e. 

It  is  remarkable  that,  during  these  times  he  never  ceased 
to  predict  what  should  shortly  come  upon  the  church  and 
kingdom.  In  the  midst  of  their  prosperity,  while  the  young 
king  was  still  in  health,  with  the  promise  of  many  length- 
ened years  before  him,  Latimer  seemed  to  have  a  constant 
foreshowing  of  the  evil  to  come.  He  always  affirmed  that 
the  preaching  of  the  gospel  would  cost  him  his  life,  and 
that  Winchester,  then  in  the  tower,  was  reserved  to  effect 
it.  A  few  years  proved  the  correctness  of  these  impres- 
sions. Edward  died;  and  very  shortly  after  the  proclama- 
tion of  Mary,  a  pursuivant  was  sent  into  the  country  to 
summon  Latimer  to  London,  who  having  some  hours'  pre- 
vious intimation  of  it,  was  so  far  from  seeking  to  escape, 
that  he  got  all  things  in  readiness  for  the  journey.  The 
officer  finding  him  prepared  to  set  out,  expressed  some  sur- 
prise, on  which  the  venerable  prelate  remarked,  "  My 
friend,  you  be  a  welcome  messenger  to  me:  and  be  it 
known  to  you,  and  to  all  the  world,  that  I  go  as  willingly 
to  London  at  this  present,  being  called  by  my  prince  to  ren- 
der a  reckoning  of  my  doctrine,  as  ever  I  was  at  any  place 
in  all  the  world.  I  doubt  not  but  that  God,  as  he  hath 
made  me  worthy  to  preach  his  word  before  two  excellent 
princes,  so  will  he  enable  me  to  witness  the  same  unto  the 
third,  either  to  her  comfort  or  discomfort  eternally."  The 
pursuivant  however,  having  delivered  his  letters,  abruptly 
departed,  saying  he  had  orders  not  to  tarry  for  him.  From 
this,  it  is  clear  that  the  wish  of  his  guilty  enemies  was  to 
drive  him  to  self-exile,  by  flight;  not  to  meet  his  bold  and 
godly  answers  to  their  false  charges;  well  knowing  that 
his  wisdom  and  constancy  would  rather  confirm  the  Lord's 


20  BISHOP   LATIMER. 

people,  and  confound  his  foes,  than  answer  the  ends  of 
their  crafty  devices. 

But  flight  was  the  last  thing  that  would  have  occurred 
to  bishop  Latimer:  he  obeyed  the  summons,  and  repaired 
to  London.  Passing  through  Smithfield  on  his  way,  he 
merrily  remarked  that  Smithfield  had  long  groaned  for 
him  ;  and  then,  appearing  before  the  council,  he  quietly  en- 
dured their  unseemly  mocks  and  taunts ;  and  in  a  spirit 
alike  valiant  and  cheerful,  took  up,  once  more,  his  abode  in 
the  tower  as  a  state  prisoner.  The  extremity  of  cruel  usage 
that  he  there  experienced,  fully  confirmed  what  was  before 
apparent,  that  the  persecutors  wished  for  nothing  so  much 
as  privately  to  get  rid  of  him :  but  the  Lord  had  decreed  to 
his  faithful  servant  the  prize  of  a  glorious  martyrdom,  and 
who  could  wrest  it  away? 

The  tender  mercies  of  popery — which  most  falsely  as- 
sumes the  name  of  a  religion,  while  it  is  in  fact  only  a  sys- 
tem of  political  craft  and  worldly  aggrandisement,  traffick- 
ing in  men's  souls  that  it  may  have  their  bodies  in  more 
hopeless  subjection — the  tender  mercies  of  popery  afforded 
to  this  aged  and  wounded  father  in  the  church  of  Christ  no 
better  accommodation,  during  a  long  and  piercing  winter, 
than  a  damp  cell,  without  one  spark  of  fire,  to  keep  life  in 
his  trembling  limbs.  One  day,  as  he  sat  nearly  perishing 
with  cold,  the  lieutenant's  man  entered  his  dungeon,  when 
Latimer  bade  him  tell  his  master  that  if  he  did  not  look 
better  to  him,  perchance  he  might  deceive  him.  The  lieu- 
tenant of  the  tower,  on  hearing  this,  hastened  to  examine 
whether  his  prisoner  was  preparing  any  means  for  escape ; 
at  the  same  time  upbraiding  him  with  what  he  had  spoken 
to  his  man.  The  bishop  replied,  "  Yea,  Mr.  Lieutenant, 
so  I  said ;  for  you  look,  I  think,  that  I  should  burn ;  but  ex- 
cept you  let  me  have  some  fire,  I  am  like  to  deceive  your 
expectation;  for  I  am  here  like  to  starve  with  cold." 

In  the  like  spirit  of  calm  and  cheerful  endurance  did 
the  old  man  meet  all  their  cruelty  and  threats,  until,  un- 
able to  touch  his  life  otherwise  than  as  God  had  appointed, 
they  were  obliged  to  transport  him,  with  Cranmer  and  Rid- 
ley, to  Oxford;  where,  in  the  month  of  April  they  were 
condemned,  as  has  been  already  related,  and  remanded  to 
several  prisons.  In  October,  the  mother  of  abominations 
resolved  to  replenish  the  cup  of  her  drunken  rage  with  the 
blood  of  these  saints  and  martyrs  of  Jesus. 


RIDLEY    AND    LATIMER.  21 


CHAPTER  II. 

BISHOPS    RIDLEY    AND    LATIMER. 

The  archbishop  of  Canterbury  having  been  called  alone 
before  the  pope's  delegates  and  the  queen's  commissioners, 
at  Oxford,  on  the  12th  of  September,  of  whose  examina- 
tion we  shall  hereafter  speak,  it  was  judged  expedient  to 
send  down  another  commission  from  cardinal  Pole,  on  the 
28th  of  the  same  month,  directed  to  the  bishops  of  Lincoln, 
Gloucester,  and  Bristol,  to  this  effect :  that  they  should 
have  full  power  and  authority  to  cite,  examine,  and  judge 
Dr.  Hugh  Latimer  and  Dr.  Nicholas  Ridley,  pretended 
bishops  of  Worcester  and  London,  for  the  divers  and  sun- 
dry erroneous  opinions  which  they  had  held  and  maintain- 
ed in  open  disputation  at  Oxford.  The  instrument  pro- 
ceeded to  empower  the  commissioners  to  receive  them  back, 
if  penitent,  and  forthwith  minister  unto  them  the  reconcilia- 
tion of  the  holy  father  the  pope ;  but  if  they  proved  stub- 
born in  defending  their  opinions,  then  the  judges  should 
pass  sentence  on  them,  degrade  them,  and  clean  cut  them 
off  from  the  church;  yielding  them  to  receive  the  punish- 
ment due  to  all  such  heresy  and  schism. 

In  pursuance  hereof,  these  lords  repaired  on  the  last  day 
of  December  to  the  divinity  school,  placing  themselves  in 
the  lofty  seats  erected  for  public  lecturers  and  disputants. 
Here  being  set,  in  pompous  trim,  with  cloth  of  tissue  and 
cushions  of  velvet,  they  sent  for  the  two  captive  bishops,  who 
presently  appeared;  but  choosing  to  examine  them  apart, 
and  to  begin  with  Ridley,  these  inhuman  tormentors  sent 
the  aged  and  feeble  Latimer  back,  not  to  his  prison,  where 
he  might  have  rested  a  while,  but  into  the  outer  room,  ex- 
posed to  the  rudeness  of  such  as  had  no  right  to  approach 
nearer. 

Dr.  Ridley  being  placed  before  them,  stood  bareheaded, 
to  hear  the  supposed  royal  commission  publicly  read  by  a 
notary;  but  no  sooner  was  cardinal  Pole,  legate  a  latere, 
named  than  he  put  on  his  cap.  The  reading  being  finish- 
ed, the  bishop  of  Lincoln  addressed  the  prisoner,  telling 
him  that  neither  he  nor  the  other  lords,  in  respect  of  their 
own  persons,  looked  for  cap  or  knee ;  yet  as  representing 
the  lord  cardinal's  grace,  legate  a  latere  from  the  pope's 


22  BISHOP    RIDLEV. 

holiness,  as  well  as  that  he  was  of  a  notable  parentage, 
descending  from  regal  blood,  (here  Ridley  moved  his  cap, 
and  did  obeisance)  as  also  worthy  to  be  reverenced  for  his 
great  knowledge,  learning,  and  virtues,  and  especially  as 
being  in  England  deputy  to  the  pope,  he  ought  at  his  name 
to  have  uncovered  his  head.  Ending  by  a  threat  that  if 
he  refused  so  to  do,  they  would  have  his  cap  plucked  off. 

The  scene  deserves  to  be  recorded  in  this  day  of  weak 
and  unfaithful  concession :  the  more  so,  as  Ridley  was  a 
man  remarkable  for  meekness,  charity,  forbearance,  and 
coutesy  to  all.     He  replied, 

"As  touching  that  you  said,  my  lord,  that  you  in  your 
own  persons  desire  no  cap  nor  knee,  but  only  require  the 
same  in  consideration  that  you  represent  the  cardinal's 
grace's  person,  I  do  you  to  wit,  and  thereupon  make  my 
protestation,  that  I  did  put  on  my  cap  at  the  naming  of  the 
cardinal's  grace,  neither  for  any  discourtesy  that  I  bear 
towards  your  own  persons,  neither  for  any  derogation  of 
honour  towards  the  lord  cardinal's  grace.  For  I  know 
him  to  be  a  man  worthy  of  all  humility,  reverence  and  ho- 
nour, in  that  he  came  of  the  most  regal  blood,  and  in  that 
he  is  a  man  indeed  with  manifold  graces  of  learning  and 
virtue;  and  as  touching  these  virtues  and  points,  I  with  all 
humility,  (therewith  he  put  off  his  cap  and  bowed  his  knee) 
and  obeisance  that  I  may,  will  reverence  and  honour  his 
grace  :  but  in  that  he  is  legate  to  the  bishop  of  Rome  (and 
then  he  put  on  his  cap)  whose  usurped  supremacy  and 
abused  authority  I  utterly  refuse  and  renounce,  I  may  in 
no  wise  give  any  obeisance  or  honour  unto  him,  lest  that 
my  so  doing  and  behaviour  might  be  prejudicial  to  mine 
oath,  and  derogation  to  the  verity  of  God's  word.  And 
therefore  that  I  might  not  only  by  confession  profess  the 
verity  in  not  reverencing  the  renounced  authority,  contrary 
to  God's  word,  but  also  in  gesture,  in  behaviour,  and  in  all 
my  doings  express  the  same,  I  have  put  on  my  cap,  and 
for  this  consideration  only;  and  not  for  any  contumacy  to 
your  lordships,  neither  contempt  of  this  worshipful  audience, 
neither  derogation  of  any  honour  due  to  the  cardinal  his 
grace,  both  for  his  noble  parentage,  and  also  his  excellent 
qualities,  I  have  kept  on  my  cap." 

"  Master  Ridley,"  said  the  bishop  of  Lincoln,  "  you  ex- 
cuse yourself  of  that  with  the  which  we  pressed  you  not, 
in  that  you  protest  you  keep  on  your  cap  neither  for  any 
contumacy  towards  us,  which  look  for  no  such  honour  of 


BISHOP    RIDLEY.  23 

you,  neither  for  any  contempt  of  this  audience,  which, 
although  justly  they  may,  yet,  as  I  suppose,  do  not  in  this 
case  require  any  such  obeisance  of  you  ;  neither  in  dero- 
gation of  any  honour  due  to  my  lord  cardinal's  grace,  for 
his  regal  descent  [at  which  word  Mi',  Ridley  moved  his 
cap)  and  excellent  qualities ;  for  although  in  all  the  pre- 
mises honour  be  due,  yet  in  these  respects  we  require  none 
of  you  ;  but  only  in  that  my  lord  cardinal's  grace  is  here  in 
England  deputy  of  the  pope's  holiness,  (at  which  word  the 
lords  and  others  put  off  their  caps,  and  Mr.  Ridley  put 
on  his,)  and  therefore  we  say  unto  you  the  second  time, 
that  except  you  take  the  pains  yourself  to  put  your  hand  to 
your  head,  and  put  off  your  cap,  you  shall  put  us  to  the 
pain  to  cause  some  man  to  take  it  from  you,  except  you 
allege  some  infirmity  or  sickness,  or  other  more  reasonable 
cause,  upon  the  consideration  whereof  we  may  do  as  we 
think  good." 

Ridley  answered,  "  The  premises  I  said,  only  for  that  it 
might  as  well  appear  to  your  lordship  as  to  this  worshipful 
audience,  why  and  for  what  consideration  I  used  such  kind 
of  behaviour,  in  not  humbling  myself  to  your  lordships 
with  cap  and  knee;  and  as  for  my  sickness,  I  thank  my 
Lord  God  that  I  am  as  well  at  ease  as  I  was  this  long  sea- 
son: and  therefore  I  do  not  pretend  that  which  is  not,  but 
only  this,  that  it  might  appear  by  this  my  behaviour  that  I 
acknowledge  in  no  point  that  usurped  supremacy  of  Rome, 
and  therefore  contemn  and  utterly  despise  all  authority 
coming  from  him.  In  taking  off  my  cap,  do  as  it  shall 
please  your  lordships,  and  I  shall  be  content." 

Then  the  bishop  of  Lincoln,  after  the  third  admonition, 
commanded  one  of  the  beadles,  an  officer  of  the  university, 
to  pluck  his  cap  from  his  head.  Mr.  Ridley  bowing  his 
head  to  the  officer,  gently  permitted  him  to  take  away  his 
cap. 

After  this  scene,  alike  memorable  and  instructive,  as 
showing  how  strictly  the  fathers  of  the  Reformation  guarded 
every  outpost  of  the  ground  which  we  so  madly  throw  open 
on  every  side,  the  examination  proceeded.  Our  limits  com- 
pel us  to  give  only  a  summary,  although  each  word  de- 
serves to  be  weighed  and  pondered  by  all  who  profess  the 
faith  for  which  these  noble  champions  earnestly  contended; 
and  in  which  they  became  more  than  conquerors,  while 
loving  not  their  lives  unto  the  death. 

The  bishop  of  Lincoln  began  a  long  and  well-arranged 


24  BISHOP    RIDLEY. 

speech,  by  setting  forth  the  authority  vested  in  the  com- 
mission, to  re-admit  bishop  Ridley  into  the  unity  of  what 
he  was  pleased  to  term  the  catholic  and  apostolic  church, 
"  which  tirst  was  founded  by  Peter  at  Rome  immediately 
after  the  death  of  Christ,  and  from  him  by  lineal  succes- 
sion hath  been  brought  to  this  our  time,"  which,  he  said, 
the  king,  queen,  and  all  the  nobles  and  commons  of  the 
realm,  and  all  Christian  people  confessed,  while  Ridley 
stood  alone  in  his  errors.  He  exhorted  him  to  renounce 
his  heretical  opinions,  and,  after  due  penance  enjoined,  to 
receive  the  offered  reconciliation.  To  this  intent,  he  bade 
him  consider  that  he  had  once  been  one  of  them ;  had  taken 
degrees  in  their  school,  had  been  made  a  priest  and  became 
a  preacher,  setting  forth  their  doctrine;  and  a  bishop  ac- 
cording to  their  laws;  from  which  he  had  lately  separated 
himself,  and  in  the  time  of  heresy  became  a  setter  forth  of 
the  devilish  and  seditious  doctrine  in  those  days  preached. 
He  then  asserted  that  at  the  time  when  the  new  doctrine  of 
faith  only  began  to  spring  up,  Ridley  being  deputed  by  the 
council  to  win  over  Stephen  Gardiner,  had  addressed  the 
latter  in  these  words,  "  Tush,  my  lord,  this  matter  of  jus- 
tification is  but  a  trifle,  let  us  not  stick  to  condescend  here- 
in to  them ;  but  for  God's  love,  my  lord,  stand  stoutly  to 
the  verity  of  the  sacrament ;  for  I  see  they  will  assault  that 
also."  From  this  Lincoln  sought  to  prove  that  Ridley  was 
still  of  their  mind  respecting  the  mass,  and  dissembling 
with  Edward's  council.  Moreover,  he  reminded  him  of 
having,  in  a  sermon  at  Paul's  cross,  as  effectually  and  ca- 
tholicly  spoken  of  the  blessed  sacrament  as  any  man  might 
do;  summing  up  all  by  a  final  entreaty  to  return  to  his  old 
belief,  to  acknowledge  the  infallibility  of  the  Romish 
church;  and  the  supremacy  of  the  pope,  lineally  taking 
his  descent  from  Peter,  upon  whom  Christ  promised  to 
build  his  church.  In  proof  of  this  supremacy  being  univer- 
sally recognized  by  the  ancient  fathers  and  doctors,  he 
quoted  a  place  or  two  out  of  their  writings,  with  one  from 
Augustine,  which  he  twisted  to  suit  his  purpose. 

Bishop  Ridley,  in  proceeding  to  answer  this  artful  ora- 
tion, thanked  Lincoln  for  his  gentleness,  for  his  sober  lan- 
guage, and  his  good  and  favourable  zeal,  in  trying  to  prevail 
on  him  to  leave  his  religion,  "  which,"  said  he,  "  I  per- 
fectly know,  and  am  thoroughly  persuaded  to  be  grounded 
not  upon  man's  imagination  and  decrees,  but  upon  the  in- 
fallible truth  of  Christ's  gospel,  and  not  to  look  back,  and 


BISHOP    RIDLEY.  25 

to  return  to  the  Romish  see,  contrary  to  mine  oath,  con- 
trary to  the  prerogative  and  crown  of  this  realm,  and  espe- 
cially— which  moveth  me  most — contrary  to  the  expressed 
word  of  God." 

He  then  divided  Lincoln's  argument  into  three  points: 
"  First,  That  the  see  of  Rome,  taking  his  beginning  from 
Peter,  upon  whom  you  say  Christ  hath  builded  his  church, 
hath  in  all  ages,  lineally  from  bishop  to  bishop,  been  brought 
to  this  time.  Secondly,  That  even  the  holy  fathers  from 
time  to  time  have  in  their  writings  confessed  the  same. 
Thirdly,  That  I  was  once  of  the  same  opinion,  and,  together 
with  you,  I  did  acknowledge  the  same." 

His  answer  to  these  three  points  was  to  this  effect:  first, 
as  to  the  foundation  of  the  church,  that  not  Peter  himself, 
a  mortal  man,  was  chosen,  so  frail  and  brittle,  for  the 
foundation  of  a  stable  and  infallible  church,  but  upon  the 
rock-stone  of  Peter's  confession,  "Thou  art  the  Christ,  the 
Son  of  the  living  God,"  had  the  Lord  declared  that  he 
would  build  his  church.  "  For,"  Ridley  continued,  "  this 
is  the  foundation  and  beginning  of  all  Christianity,  with 
word,  heart  and  mind  to  confess  that  Christ  is  the  Son  of 
God.  Whosoever  believeth  not  this,  Christ  is  not  in  him  ; 
and  he  cannot  have  the  mark  of  Christ  printed  in  his  fore- 
head, which  confesseth  not  that  Christ  is  the  Son  of  God. 
Therefore  Christ  said  unto  Peter  that  upon  this  rock,  that 
is,  upon  this  confession  that  he  was  Christ  the  Son  of  God, 
he  would  build  his  church ;  to  declare  that  without  this  faith 
no  man  can  come  to  Christ:  so  that  this  belief,  that  Christ 
is  the  Son  of  God,  is  the  foundation  of  our  Christianity,  and 
the  foundation  of  our  church.  Here  you  see  upon  what 
foundation  Christ's  church  is  built;  not  upon  the  frailty  of 
man,  but  upon  the  stable  and  infallible  word  of  God. 

"  Now,  as  touching  the  lineal  descent  of  the  bishops  in 
the  see  of  Rome,  true  it  is  that  the  patriarchs  of  Rome  in 
the  apostles'  time,  and  long  after,  were  great  maintainers 
and  setters  forth  of  Christ's  glory,  in  the  which,  above  all 
other  countries  and  regions,  there  was  preached  the  true 
gospel,  the  sacraments  were  most  duly  ministered ;  and,  as 
before  Christ's  coming,  it  was  a  city  so  valiant  in  prowess 
and  martial  affairs,  that  all  the  world  was  in  a  manner  sub- 
ject to  it,  and  after  Christ's  passion  divers  of  the  apostles 
there  suffered  persecution  for  the  gospel's  sake;  so,  after 
that  the  emperors,  their  hearts  being  illuminated,  received 
the  gospel  and  became  Christians,  the  gospel  there,  as  well 

MARTYROLOGY. VOL.  II.  3 


26  BISHOP   KIDLEV. 

for  the  great  power  and  dominion  as  for  the  fame  of  the 
place,  flourished  most;  whereby  the  bishops  of  that  place 
ivere  had  in  more  reverence  and  honour,  most  esteemed  in 
all  councils  and  assemblies,  not  because  they  acknow- 
ledged them  to  be  their  liead,  but  because  the  place  was 
most  reverenced,  and  spoken  of,  for  the  great  power  and 
strength  of  the  same.  As  now  here  in  England,  the  bishop 
of  Lincoln  in  sessions  and  sittings,  hath  the  pre-eminence 
of  the  other  bishops,  not  that  he  is  the  head  and  ruler  of 
them,  but  for  the  dignity  of  the  bishopric.  (At  this  the 
people  smiled.)  Wherefore,  the  doctors,  in  their  writings, 
have  spoken  most  reverently  of  the  see  of  Rome,  and  in 
their  writings  preferred  it;  and  this  is  the  prerogative  which 
your  lordship  did  rehearse  the  ancient  doctors  to  give  the 
see  of  Rome.  Semblably,  I  cannot,  nor  dare  not  but  com- 
mend, reverence,  and  honour  the  see  of  Rome,  as  long  as 
it  continued  in  the  promotion  and  setting  forth  of  God's 
glory,  and  in  the  due  preaching  of  the  gospel,  as  it  did 
many  years  after  Christ.  But  after  that  the  bishops  of 
that  see,  seeking  their  own  pride,  and  not  God's  honour, 
began  to  set  themselves  above  kings  and  emperors,  chal- 
lenging to  them  the  title  of  God's  vicars,  the  dominion  and 
supremacy  over  all  the  world,  I  cannot,  but  with  St.  Gre- 
gory, a  bishop  of  Rome  also,  confess  that  the  bishop  of  that 
place  is  the  very  true  antichrist,  whereof  St.  John  speaketh 
by  the  name  of  the  whore  of  Babylon,  and  say  with  the 
said  Gregory,  he  that  makelh  himself  a  bishop  over  all  the 
world,  is  worse  than  antichrist." 

The  second  point,  consent  of  the  fathers  to  the  assumed 
supremacy  of  Rome,  he  disposed  of,  by  showing  that  Lin- 
coln had  misinterpreted  the  passage  in  Augustine,  in  whose 
time  there  were  four  patriarchs;  of  Alexandria,  Constan- 
tinople, Antioch,  and  Rome:  the  jurisdiction  of  each  ex- 
tending only  to  the  boundaries  of  his  own  province.  By 
wilfully  overlooking  this,  Lincoln  had  given  to  Augustine's 
words  a  meaning  altogether  foreign  to  them,  for  the  sake 
of  forcing  a  testimony  in  favour  of  papal  supremacy;  where- 
as he  only  spoke  of  his  local  and  prescribed  jurisdiction. 
He  thus  wound  up  his  argument:  "  For  this  pre-eminence 
also  the  other  doctors,  as  you  recited,  say  that  Rome  is  the 
mother  of  churches,  as  the  bishopric  of  Lincoln  is  mother 
to  the  bishopric  of  Oxford,  because  the  bishopric  of  Oxford 
came  from  the  bishopric  of  Lincoln,  and  they  were  once 
both  one;  and  so  is  the  archbishopric  of  Canterbury  mother 


BISHOP    RIDLEY.  27 

to  the  other  bishoprics  which  are  in  her  province.  In  like 
sort,  the  archbishopric  of  York  is  mother  to  the  north  bish- 
oprics; and  yet  no  man  will  say  that  Lincoln,  Canterbury, 
or  York  is  supreme  head  to  other  bishoprics ;  neither  then 
ought  we  to  confess  the  see  of  Rome  to  be  supreme  head, 
because  the  doctors,  in  their  writings,  confess  the  see  of 
Rome  to  be  mother  of  churches." 

Coming  to  the  third  point,  he  continued,  "  Now,  where 
you  say  1  was  once  of  the  same  religion  that  you  are  of, 
the  truth  is  I  cannot  but  conless  the  same.  Yet  so  was  St. 
Paul  a  persecutor  of  Christ.  But  in  that  you  say  I  was 
one  of  you  not  long  agone,  in  that  I  doing  my  message  to 
my  lord  of  Winchester  should  desire  him  to  stand  stout  in 
that  gross. opinion  of  the  supper  of  the  Lord;  in  very  deed 
I  was  sent,  as  your  lordship  said,  from  the  council  to  my 
lord  of  Winchester,  to  exhort  him  to  receive  also  the  true 
confession  of  justification  ;  and  because  he  was  very  refrac- 
tory, I  said  to  him.  Why,  my  lord,  what  make  you  so  great 
a  matter  herein?  you  see  many  anabaptists  rise  against  the 
sacrament  of  the  altar;  I  pray  you,  my  lord,  be  diligent 
in  confounding  of  them;  for  at  that  time  my  lord  of  VVin- 
chester  and  1  had  to  do  with  two  anabaptists  in  Kent.  In 
this  sense,  I  willed  my  lord  to  be  stiff  in  defence  of  the 
sacrament,  against  the  detestable  errors  of  anabaptists,  and 
not  in  the  confirmation  of  that  gross  and  carnal  opinion 
now  maintained, 

"  In  like  sort,  as  touching  the  sermon  which  I  made  at 
Paul's  cross,  you  shall  understand  that  there  were  at  Paul's, 
and  divers  other  places,  fixed  railing  bills  against  the  sacra- 
ment, terming  it  Jack  of  the  box,  the  sacrament  of  the  hal- 
ter, round  Robin,  with  such  like  unseemly  terms;  for  the 
which  causes  I,  to  rebuke  the  unreverend  behaviour  of  cer- 
tain evil  disposed  persons,  preached  as  reverently  of  that 
matter  as  I  might,  declaring  what  estimation  and  reverence 
ought  to  be  given  to  it,  what  danger  ensued  the  mishandling 
thereof,  affirming  in  that  sacrament  to  be  truly  and  verily 
the  body  and  blood  of"  Christ,  effectually  by  grace  and 
spirit:  which  words  the  unlearned  understanding  not,  sup- 
posed that  I  had  meant  the  gross  and  carnal  being  which 
the  Romish  decrees  set  forth,  that  a  body  having  life  and 
motion  should  indeed  be  under  the  shapes  of  bread  and 
wine." 

Here  the  bishop  of  Lincoln  found  it  expedient  to  inter- 
rupt his  prisoner,  by  returning  to  the  former  cavil  about 


28  BISHOP    RIDLEY. 

Augustine's  expression ;  but  there  too  Ridley  made  good 
his  interpretation  so  soundly  and  convincingly  that  he  was 
glad  to  shift  his  ground  again,  and,  adverting  to  their  in- 
structions, proceeded  to  allege  the  visibility  and  universali- 
ty of  his  church ;  and  to  plead  that  an  acknowledgment  of 
the  fancied  supremacy  could  not  be  prejudicial  to  the  crown, 
since  the  king  and  queen  had  renounced  what  he  termed 
the  usurped  power,  taken  by  their  predecessors.  He  set 
forth  that  there  were  two  powers,  of  the  sword  and  of  the 
keys :  the  former  being  given  to  kings  and  rulers,  the  latter 
delivered  by  Christ  to  Peter,  and  of  him  left  to  all  his  suc- 
cessors. As  touching  their  worldly  goods,  possessions,  and 
lives,  he  said  they  acknowledged  themselves  subjects  to  the 
king  and  queen;  but  in  spiritual  and  ecclesiastical  matters 
they  owned  another  head.  To  this  doctrine  he  finally 
called  on  Ridley  to  subscribe,  after  the  example  of  their 
majesties,  who  had  yielded  to  it;  assuring  him  that,  by  so 
doing,  he  would  delight  the  pope  and  all  Christendom,  bring- 
ing quietness  and  health  to  his  soul;  while  they  would 
gladly  receive  him  again,  as  no  longer  a  rotten  but  a  lively 
member  of  Christ's  church.  Otherwise  they  must  do  their 
duty,  by  delivering  him  up  to  the  temporal  judges,  to  receive 
at  their  hands  the  punishment  due  for  his  heresy.  In  con- 
clusion he  added  these  words,  "  Wherefore,  Mr.  Ridley, 
consider  your  state,  remember  your  former  degrees,  spare 
your  body,  especially  consider  your  soul,  which  Christ  so 
dearly  bought  with  his  precious  blood:  do  not  you  rashly 
cast  away  that  which  is  precious  in  God's  sight :  enforce 
us  not  to  do  all  that  we  may  do,  which  is  only  to  publish 
you  to  be  none  of  us,  to  cut  you  off  from  the  church.  We 
do  not  nor  cannot  condemn  you  to  die,  as  most  untruly 
hath  been  reported  of  us ;  but  that  is  the  temporal  judge's 
office :  we  only  declare  you  to  be  none  of  the  church,  and 
then  must  you,  according  to  the  tenor  of  them,  and  plea- 
sure of  the  rulers,  abide  their  determination ;  so  that  we, 
after  we  have  given  you  up  to  the  temporal  rulers,  have  no 
further  to  do  with  you.  But  I  trust.  Master  Ridley,  we 
shall  not  have  occasion  to  do  that  we  may.  I  trust  you 
will  suffer  us  to  rest  in  that  point  of  our  commission  which 
We  most  heartily  desire,  that  is,  upon  recantation  and  re- 
pentance to  receive  you,  to  reconcile  you,  and  again  to  ad- 
join you  to  the  unity  of  the  church." 

After  much  interruption,  bishop  Ridley  obtained  a  hear- 
ing, and  spoke  as  follows :  "  My  lord,  I  acknowledge  an 


BISHOP    RIDLEY.  2# 

unspotted  church  of  Christ,  in  the  which  no  man  can  err,* 
without  the  which  no  man  can  be  saved,  the  which  is 
spread  throughout  all  the  world ;  that  is,  the  congregation 
of  the  faithful :  neither  do  I  alligate  or  bind  the  same  to 
any  one  place,  as  you  said;  but  confess  the  same  to  be 
spread  throughout  all  the  world.  And  where  Christ's  sa- 
craments are  duly  ministered,  his  gospel  truly  preached 
and  followed,  there  doth  Christ's  church  shine  as  a  city 
upon  a  hill,  and  as  a  candle  in  the  candlestick  :  but  rather 
it  is  such  as  you  that  would  have  the  church  of  Christ 
bound  to  a  place,  and  appoint  the  same  to  Rome,  that  there 
and  nowhere  else  is  the  foundation  of  Christ's  church.  But 
I  am  fully  persuaded  that  Christ's  church  is  everywhere 
founded  in. every  place  where  his  gospel  is  truly  received, 
and  eflectually  followed.  And  in  that  the  church  of  God 
is  in  doubt,  I  use  herein  the  wise  counsel  of  Vincentius  Li- 
rinensis,  whom  I  am  sure  you  will  allow,  who  giving  pre- 
cepts how  the  catholic  church  may  be,  in  all  schisms  and 
heresies,  known,  writeth  in  this  manner :  When,  saith  he, 
one  part  is  corrupted  with  heresies,  then  prefer  the  whole 
world  before  that  one  part;  but  if  the  greatest  part  be  in- 
fected, then  pi'efer  antiquity. 

"  In  like  sort  now,  when  I  see  the  greatest  part  to  be  infect- 
ed with  the  poison  of  the  see  of  Rome,  I  repair  to  the  usage 
of  the  primitive  church,  which  I  find  clean  contrary  to  the 
pope's  decrees ;  in  that  the  priest  receiveth  alone,  that  it  is 
made  unlawful  to  the  laity  to  receive  in  both  kinds,  and 
such  like.  Wherefore  it  requireth  that  I  prefer  the  anti- 
quity of  the  primitive  church  before  the  novelty  of  the 
Romish  church." 

The  bishop  of  Lincoln  contended  that  the  faults  thus 
alleged  against  the  church  of  Rome  were  no  faults.  He 
absurdly  adduced  the  fact  of  our  Lord's  manifesting  him- 
self after  his  resurrection,  in  the  breaking  of  bread,  of  Paul 
breaking  bread  on  the  passage  towards  Rome,  and  of  the 
apostles'  coming  together  to  break  bread,  as  warrants  for 
obliging  the  laity  to  receive  in  one  kind  only:  adding  that 
il  was  rightly  done  to  compel  the  people  to  believe  that 
Christ  v/as  wholly,  both  flesh  and  blood,  under  the  form  of 
bread.  To  establish  the  right  of  the  church  thus  to  alter 
commandments,  he  referred  to  Paul's  injunction  to  the  Gen- 

*  He  obviously  means,  that  no  one  being  a  child  of  God,  and 
taught  of  him,  will  be  permitted  finally  and  fatally  to  err  from  tlie 
truth. 

3* 


30  BISHOP    RIDLEY. 

tiles,  to  eat  no  blood;  and  asked  by  what  authority  it  was 
now  made  lawful  to  the  Gentile  Christian  to  eat  blood,  un- 
less by  the  permission  of  the  church.  Ridley  replied,  that 
St.  Paul's  injunctions  to  the  Gentiles  were  meant  as  a  suf- 
ferance, by  little  and  little  to  win  the  Jews  to  Christ.  They 
were  for  the  time,  not  respecting  those  who  should  come 
after.  But  Christ's  commandment,  "  Do  this,"  applied  to 
what  He  then  did,  which  was  not  to  minister  in  one  kind 
only;  neither  was  it  a  commandment  for  a  time,  but  to  be 
persevered  in  to  the  world's  end. 

But  Lincoln  affected  not  to  hear  this,  and  proceeded  in 
his  oration,  setting  forth,  that  power  had  been  vested  by  the 
Holy  Ghost  in  what  he  called  the  church  to  alter  scripture. 
He  then  declared  that  they  did  not  come  to  reason  the  mat- 
ter with  the  accused,  but  to  propose  certain  articles,  to  each 
of  which  he  must  answer  either  affirmatively  or  negatively, 
either  denying  them  or  granting  them,  without  farther  dis- 
putation or  reasoning.  These  articles  he  must  answer  by 
eight  o'clock  the  next  morning,  for  which  purpose  he 
might  have  a  copy  of  them,  with  pen,  ink  and  paper,  and 
such  books  as  he  might  demand,  if  they  were  to  be  had  in 
the  university. 

The  articles  were  then  read,  as  follows : — 

I.  We  do  object  to  thee,  Nicholas  Ridley,  and  to  thee, 
Hugh  Latimer,  jointly  and  severally,  first,  that  thou,  Nicho- 
las Ridley,  in  this  high  university  of  Oxford,  An.  1554,  in  the 
months  of  April,  May,  June,  July,  or  in  some  one  or  more 
of  them,  hast  affirmed,  and  openly  defended  and  maintain- 
ed, and  in  many  other  times  and  places  besides,  that  the 
true  and  natural  body  of  Christ,  after  the  consecration  of 
the  priest,  is  not  really  present  in  the  sacrament  of  the 
altar. 

IL  Item,  that  in  the  year  and  months  aforesaid,  thou 
hast  publicly  affirmed  and  defended,  that  in  the  sacrament 
of  the  altar  there  remaineth  still  the  substance  of  bread 
and  wine. 

in.  Item,  that  in  the  same  year  and  months,  thou  hast 
openly  affirmed,  and  obstinately  maintained,  that  in  the 
mass  is  no  propitiatory  sacrifice  for  the  quick  and  the 
dead. 

IV.  Item,  that  in  the  year  place  and  months  aforesaid, 
these,  the  aforesaid  assertions,  solemnly  had  been  con- 
demned by  the  scholastical  censure  of  this  school,  as  hereti- 
cal and  contrary  to  the  catholic  faith,  by  the  worshipful  Dr. 


BISHOP    RIDLEY.  M" 

Weston,  prolocutor  then  of  the  convocation  house,  as  also 
by  other  learned  men  of  both  the  universities. 

V.  Item,  that  all  and  singular  the  premises  be  true,  no- 
torious, famous,  and  openly  known  by  public  fame,  as 
well  to  them  near  hand,  as  also  to  them  in  distant  places 
far  off. 

When  the  paper  had  been  read,  Lincoln,  after  private 
conference  with  the  other  bishops,  asked  Ridley  what  he 
said  to  the  first;  requiring  him  to  answer,  either  affirma- 
tively or  negatively.  He  replied,  "  Why,  my  lord,  I  sup- 
posed your  gentleness  had  been  such  that  you  would  have 
given  me  space  until  to-morrow,  that  upon  good  advisement 
I  might  bring  a  determinate  answer."  Lincoln  assured 
him  that  what  he  might  then  say  should  not  be  prejudicial 
to  his  answers  on  the  morrow;  but  that  he  should  have 
liberty  to  add,  diminish,  alter  and  change  of  his  answers 
what  he  would.  Ridley  replied,  "  Indeed,  in  like  manner, 
at  our  last  disputation  I  had  many  things  promised,  but  few 
performed.  It  was  said  that  after  disputation  I  should 
have  a  copy  thereof,  and  license  to  change  mine  answers  as 
I  should  think  good ;  it  was  meet  also  that  I  should  have 
seen  what  was  written  by  the  notaries  at  that  time.  So  your 
lordship  pretended  great  gentleness  in  giving  me  a  time; 
but  this  gentleness  is  the  same  that  Christ  had  of  the  high 
priest.  For  you,  as  your  lordship  saith,  have  no  power 
to  condemn  me,  neither  at  any  time  to  put  a  man  to  death : 
so  in  like  sort  the  high  priest  said,  that  it  was  not  lawful  for 
them  to  put  any  man  to  death,  but  committed  Christ  to 
Pilate,  neither  would  suffer  him  to  absolve  Christ,  although 
he  sought  all  the  means  therefore  that  he  might." 

On  this  Dr.  Weston  exclaimed,  "What!  do  you  make 
the  king  Pilate?"  "  No,  Mr.  Doctor,"  replied  the  bishop, 
"  I  do  but  compare  your  deeds  with  Caiaphas'  deeds,  and 
the  high  priest's,  which  would  not  condemn  any  man  to 
death,  as  ye  will  not,  and  yet  would  not  suffer  any  man  to 
absolve  and  deliver  Christ." 

Lincoln,  unabashed  by  the  just  severity  of  this  exposure 
of  their  treacherous  deeds,  renewed  his  demand  for  imme- 
diate answers,  and  his  hollow  promise  of  liberty  to  change 
on  the  morrow;  Ridley,  seeing  them  resolved  on  entrap- 
ping him,  made  this  declaration :  "  I  require  the  notaries 
to  take  and  write  my  protestation,  that  in  no  point  I  acknow- 
ledge your  authority,  or  admit  you  to  be  my  judges,  in  which 
point  you  are  authorized  from  the  pope.    Therefore,  what- 


33  BISHOP   RIDLEY. 

soever  I  shall  say  or  do,  I  protest,  I  neither  say  it  neither 
do  it  willingly,  thereby  to  admit  the  authority  of  the  pope; 
and  if  your  lordship  will  give  me  leave,  I  will  show  the 
causes  which  move  me  thereunto." 

As  may  be  supposed,  Lincoln  refused  such  permission. 
"  No,  Mr.  Ridley,  we  have  instructions  to  the  contrary;  we 
may  not  suffer  you."  "  I  will  be  short,"  said  the  martyr, 
"  I  pray  your  lordship  suffer  me  to  speak  in  few  words." 
"  No,  Master  Ridley,  we  may  not  abuse  the  hearers'  ears." 
"  Why,  my  lord,  suffer  me  to  speak  three  words."  "Well, 
Mr.  Ridley,"  said  Lincoln,  "  to-morrow  you  shall  speak 
forty.  The  time  is  far  past;  therefore  we  require  your 
answer  determinately.  What  say  you  to  the  first  article?" 
— which  he  thereupon  rehearsed. 

Bishop  Ridley,  renewing  his  protestation  against  the 
pope's  usurped  authority  and  theirs,  made  answer  to  the 
first  article,  showing  that  while  they  and  he  confessed  one 
thing  in  words — that  in  the  sacrament  is  the  very  true  and 
natural  body  and  blood  of  Christ,  they  differed  altogether 
in  the  manner  of  its  presence.  Ridley  held  it  to  be  there 
by  spirit  and  grace,  so  that  whosover  worthily  receiveth 
that  sacrament,  receiveth  effectually  Christ's  body,  and 
drinketh  his  blood;  that  is,  he  is  made  effectually  partaker 
of  his  passion.  But  the  papists  made  a  grosser  kind  of  be- 
ing, enclosing  a  natural,  livelj^  and  movable  body,  under 
the  shape  or  form,  of  bread  and  wine.  This  he  twice  re- 
peated, varying  his  expressions  to  enable  the  notaries  the 
better  to  take  in  his  exact  meaning,  and  they  then  penned 
his  answer  affirmatively. 

To  the  second  article,  again  reserving  his  protestation, 
he  replied,  "  In  the  sacrament  is  a  certain  change,  so  that 
that  bread  which  was  before  common  bread,  is  now  made 
a  lively  presentation  of  Christ's  body;  and  not  only  a 
figure,  but  effectually  representeth  his  body,  that  even  as 
the  mortal  body  was  nourished  with  that  visible  bread,  so  is 
the  internal  soul  fed  with  the  heavenly  food  of  Christ's  body, 
which  the  eye  of  faith  seeth,  as  thp  bodily  eyes  see  only 
bread.  Such  a  sacramental  mutation  I  grant  to  be  in  the 
bread  and  wine,  which  truly  is  no  small  change,  but  such 
a  change  as  no  mortal  man  can  make,  but  only  that  omni- 
potency  of  Christ's  word." 

The  bishop  of  Lincoln,  not  satisfied  with  this,  desired 
him  to  give  a  direct  answer,  either  affirmatively  or  nega- 
tively: he  then  replied  more  distinctly,  that  notwithstand- 


BISHOP    RIDLEY,  33 

ing  the  sacramental  mutation  of  which  he  spake,  the  true 
substance  and  nature  of  bread  and  wine  remained,  with 
which  the  body  was  in  like  sort  nourished,  as  tlie  soul,  by- 
grace  and  spirit,  with  the  body  of  Christ.  He  then  alleo-cd 
a  similar  operation  in  baptism,  where,  notwithstanding  its 
saci'amental  use,  the  water  ceased  not  to  be  water.  Lin- 
coln allowed  not  the  analogy;  and  the  notaries  recorded 
the  answer  to  the  second  article  affirmatively  of  the  charge. 
To  the  third,  he  replied,  "  Christ,  as  St.  Paul  writeth, 
made  one  perfect  sacrifice  for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world ; 
neither  can  any  man  reiterate  that  sacrifice  of  his;  and  yet 
is  the  communion  an  acceptable  sacrifice  to  God,  of  praise 
and  thanksgiving:  but  to  say  that  sins  are  thereby  taken 
away,  (which  wholly  and  perfectly  was  done  by  Christ's 
passion,  of  the  which  the  communion  is  only  a  memory) 
that  is  a  great  derogation  of  the  merits  of  Christ's  passion. 
For  the  sacrament  was  instituted  that  we,  receiving  it,  and 
thereby  recognizing  and  remembering  his  passion,  should 
be  partakers  of  the  merits  of  the  same.  For  otherwise  doth 
this  sacrament  take  upon  it  the  office  of  Christ's  passion, 
whereby  it  might  follow  that  Christ  died  in  vain."  This 
answer  was  also  written  down  affirmatively;  while  the 
bishop  of  Lincoln  made  an  attempt  to  parry  the  force  of 
Ridley's  argument,  by  asserting  that  Christ  lefl  the  un- 
bloody sacrifice  of  the  mass  in  remembrance  of  the  bleed- 
ing sacrifice  on  the  cross. 

To  the  fourth  article,  Ridley  answered  that  in  some  part 
it  was  true,  and  in  some  false ;  true,  that  his  assertions  were 
condemned  as  heresies,  though  unjustly:  false  that  the  con- 
demnation was  scholastically  ordered. 

To  the  fifth  he  said,  that  the  premises  were  in  such  sort 
true  as  in  those  his  answers  he  had  declared.  Whether 
all  men  spake  evil  of  them  he  knew  not,  in  that  he  came 
not  so  much  abroad  to  hear  what  every  man  said. 

He  was  then  remanded  till  eight  o'clock  the  next  morn- 
ing, Lincoln  wishing  him  to  write  his  answer  to  the  first 
article,  which  seemed  to  perplex  them ;  but  adding  that  if 
he  wrote  any  thing  saving  his  answers,  they  would  not  re- 
ceive it. 

Bishop  Ridley  being  committed  to  the  mayor's  custody, 
Latimer  was  brought  in  by  the  bailiff,  and  placed  before 
what  his  brother  martyr  had  justly  likened  to  the  seat  of 
Caiaphas.  The  venerable  prelate  appeared,  bowed  down 
by  age,  infirmity,  and  cruel  usage,  and  clad  in  striking  con- 


34  BISHOP    LATIMER, 

trast  to  their  proud  and  pompous  array.  He  had  on  him 
an  old  thread-bare  gown  of  Bristol  frieze,  confined  to  his 
body  with  a  penny  leather  girdle,  to  which  hung  by  a 
long  strap  of  leather  his  Testament,  while  his  spectacles, 
without  a  case,  were  suspended  from  his  neck ;  his  head 
was  wrapped  in  a  kerchief,  over  that  a  night-cap  or  two, 
and  lastly  a  large  coarse  cap  or  hood,  such  as  the  lower 
order  of  townspeople  used  to  wear,  with  two  great  flaps, 
buttoning  under  his  chin.  On  entering,  he  exclaimed,  "My 
lords,  if  I  appear  again,  I  pray  you  not  to  send  for  me  until 
you  be  ready.  For  I  am  an  old  man,  and  it  is  great  hurt 
to  mine  old  age  to  tarry  so  long,  gazing  upon  the  cold 
walls."  Lincoln  replied,  "  Mr.  Latimer,  I  am  sorry  you 
are  brought  so  soon,  although  it  is  the  bailiff's  fault  and 
not  mine :  but  it  shall  be  amended." 

On  this  the  good  old  man  bowed  his  knee  to  the  ground, 
holding  his  hat  in  his  hand,  a  spectacle  to  angels  and  men, 
of  one  of  those  described  by  St.  Paul,  "  of  whom  the  world 
was  not  worthy."  Lincoln  commenced  a  long  harangue 
by  setting  forth  his  commission  from  my  lord  cardinal  Pole's 
grace,  and  our  most  reverend  father,  the  pope's  holiness,  to 
sit  in  judgment  on  God's  people.  He  used  the  same  exhor- 
tations as  with  Ridley,  urging  the  example  of  royalty,  and 
so  forth,  the  late  terrible  schism  of  the  English  church,  in 
daring  to  throw  off  the  papal  yoke,  and  the  general  recan- 
tation of  that  error.  That  the  supremacy  of  the  Romish 
see  was  no  usurped  power,  he  undertook  to  prove  not  only 
by  divers  places  of  the  ancient  fathers,  but  also  by  the  ex- 
press word  of  God. 

Latimer  had  remained  quiet  so  far,  leaning  his  head  on 
his  hand ;  but  when  the  bishop  talked  of  proving  his  point 
by  Scripture,  he  began  to  remove  the  cap  and  kerchief 
from  his  ears. 

Lincoln  continued,  and  assuming  that  our  Lord  had  com- 
missioned Peter  to  rule  or  reign  over  his  flock,  averred  that 
Peter  by  hand  delivered  the  same  authority  to  Clement, 
since  which,  in  all  ages,  it  had  remained  in  the  see  of  Rome. 
Then  he  extolled  the  king  and  queen,  in  that  their  majes- 
ties, though  personally  innocent  of  any  dissent  from  popery, 
had  humbly  submitted  themselves  to  my  lord  cai'dinal's 
grace;  and,  calling  on  Latimer  to  renounce  his  errors  and 
heresies,  with  an  assurance  that  otherwise  he  should  be  put 
to  death,  he  concluded  by  an  earnest  exhortation  couched 
in  these  words,  "  Consider,  that  if  you  should  die  in  this 


BISHOP   LATIMER.  35 

State,  you  shall  be  a  stinking  sacrifice  to  God  ;  for  it  is  the 
cause  that  maketh  the  martyr,  and  not  the  death  :  consider, 
that  if  you  die  in  this  state,  you  die  without  grace,  for  with- 
out the  church  can  be  no  salvation.  Let  not  vain-glory 
have  the  upper  hand ;  humiliate  yourself,  captivate  your 
understanding,  subdue  your  reason,  submit  yourself  to  the 
determination  of  the  church  :  do  not  force  us  to  do  all  that 
we  may  do,  let  us  rest  in  that  part  which  we  most  heartily 
desire.  And  I,  for  my  part,  (then  he  put  off  his  cap)  again 
with  all  my  heart  exhort  you." 

After  a  pause,  Latimer  lifted  up  his  head,  which  he  had 
again  leaned  on  his  elbow,  as  he  stood,  or  rather  knelt  be- 
fore them,  and  asked  if  his  lordship  had  said  all  ?  Being 
answered.  Yea,  he  craved  permission  to  speak  a  few  words, 
which  was  granted  by  Lincoln,  "  Provided  you  use  a  mo- 
dest kind  of  talk,  without  railing  or  taunts."  Latimer  pro- 
ceeded, "  I  beseech  your  lordship,  license  me  to  sit  down." 
This  also  was  permitted.  He  then  commenced  a  pungent 
commentary  on  the  popish  version  of  Peter's  commission, 
showing  how,  in  a  book  lately  set  forth,  this  point  was  argu- 
ed by  citing  the  authority  given  to  the  levitical  priesthood, 
where,  in  Deuteronomy  it  is  commanded  that  if  there  arise 
any  controversy  among  the  people,  the  priests  shall  decide 
the  matter  according  to  the  law  of  God.  The  author  of 
the  book  in  question,  he  said,  had  transferred  this  authority 
to  the  bishops  and  clergy  of  the  new  law;  but,  leaving  out 
the  obligation  of  deciding  according  to  the  law  of  God,  he 
had  only  recited,  that  as  the  priests  of  the  order  of  Levi 
should  decide  the  matter,  so  it  should  be  taken  of  the  peo- 
ple. This  he  called  a  clipping  of  God's  coin ;  at  which 
expression  the  people  smiled :  and  he  added,  "  Nay,  nay, 
my  lords,  we  may  not  give  such  authority  to  the  clergy  to 
rule  all  things  as  they  will.  Let  them  keep  themselves 
within  their  commission.  Now,  I  trust,  my  lord,  1  do  not 
rail  yet." 

Lincoln  answered  that  his  talk  was  more  like  taunts  than 
railing;  adding  that  he  had  not  seen  the  book,  nor  knew  of 
any  such.  "  Yes,  my  lord,"  said  Latimer,  "  the  book  is 
open  to  be  seen,  and  is  intituled  to  one  which  is  bishop  of 
Gloucester,  whom  I  never  knew,  neither  did  at  any  time 
see  him  to  my  knowledge."  At  that  the  people  laughed 
out,  for  the  bishop  of  Gloucester  sat  there  in  commission ; 
who,  rising,  said  the  book  was  his. 


36  BISHOP    LATIMER. 

"  Was  it  yours,  my  lord  ?"  said  Latimer ;  "  indeed  I 
knew  not  your  lordship,  neither  ever  did  I  see  you  before ; 
neither  yet  see  you  now,  through  the  brightness  of  the  sun 
shining  betwixt  you  and  me."  Again  the  people  rudely 
laughed;  and  the  good  old  bishop  turning  to  them  said, 
"  Why,  my  masters,  this  is  no  laughing  matter :  I  answer 
upon  life  and  death" — then  he  added  in  Latin,  "  Woe  unto 
you  that  laugh  now,  for  you  shall  weep." 

Lincoln,  commanding  silence,  said,  that  if  he  had  kept 
within  his  bounds,  and  not  used  taunts,  this  had  not  hap- 
pened. Then  Gloucester,  speaking  in  defence  of  his  book, 
began,  "  Mr.  Latimer,  hereby  every  man  may  see  what 
learning  you  have."  Latimer  interrupted  him;  "You  look 
for  learning  at  my  hands,  which  have  gone  so  long  to  the 
school  of  oblivion,  making  the  bare  walls  my  library,  keep- 
ing me  so  long  in  prison,  without  book,  or  pen  and  ink? 
And  now  you  let  me  loose  to  come  and  answer  to  articles. 
You  deal  with  me,  as  though  two  were  appointed  to  fight 
for  life  and  death,  and  over  night  the  one,  through  friends 
and  favour,  is  cherished  and  hath  good  counsel  given  him, 
how  to  encounter  with  his  enemy.  The  other,  for  envy 
or  lack  of  friends,  all  the  whole  night  is  set  in  the  stocks. 
In  the  morning,  when  they  shall  meet,  the  one  is  in  strength, 
and  lusty;  the  other  is  stark  of  his  limbs,  and  almost  dead 
for  feebleness.  Think  you,  that  to  run  through  this  man 
with  a  spear  is  not  a  goodly  victory?" 

The  bishop  of  Gloucester  proceeded,  saying  that  he  had 
only  used  that  passage  of  Scripture  as  an  argument  to 
prove  that  if  the  Jewish  priests  had  power  to  decide  con- 
troversies among  the  people,  much  more  should  the  Chris- 
tian priesthood  have  that  power.  What  availed  it,  he 
asked,  to  recite  the  words,  "  according  to  God's  law?" 
Latimer  answered.  Very  much;  for  though  he  acknow- 
ledged that  authority  was  given  to  the  spirituality  to  decide 
in  matters  of  religion,  they  must  do  it,  he  said,  according 
to  the  word  and  law  of  God,  and  not  after  their  own  will, 
after  their  own  imaginations  and  fancies.  Gloucester 
would  have  spoken  farther,  but  Lincoln  saying  they  came 
not  there  to  dispute  with  Mr.  Latimer,  but  to  take  his  de- 
termination to  their  articles,  went  on  to  propose  the  same 
articles  that  had  been  objected  against  Ridley.  Latimer 
however  continued,  addressing  the  bishop  of  Gloucester, 
"  Well,  my  lord,  I  could  wish  more  faithful  dealing  with 


BISHOP   LATIMER.  3T 

God's  word ;  and  not  to  leave  out  a  part,  and  snatch  a  part 
here,  and  another  there,  but  to  rehearse  the  whole  faith- 
fully." 

The  articles  were  then  proceeded  in,  and  Latinner  before 
answering  the  first,  made  a  stout  protestation  against  ac- 
knowledging the  bishop  of  Rome's  authority,  saying  that 
he  was  the  king's  and  queen's  majesties'  subject,  and  not 
the  pope's ;  neither  could  serve  two  masters  at  one  time, 
except  he  should  now  renounce  one  of  them.  He  required 
the  notaries  so  to  record  his  protestation,  that  whatever  he 
should  say  or  do,  it  should  not  be  taken  as  though  he  did 
thereby  agree  to  any  authority  that  came  from  the  bishop 
of  Rome. 

This  being  understood,  he  gave  answer  to  the  first  arti- 
cle. "  I  do  not  deny,  my  lord,  that  in  the  sacrament,  by 
spirit  and  grace,  is  the  very  body  and  blood  of  Christ, 
because  that  every  faithful  man  by  receiving  bodily  that 
bread  and  wine,  spiritually  receiveth  the  body  and  blood  of 
Christ,  and  is  made  partaker  thereby  of  the  merits  of 
Christ's  passion:  but  I  deny  that  the  body  and  blood  of 
Christ  is  in  such  soi't  in  the  sacrament  as  you  would  have 
it."  This  answer  was  taken  affirmatively  of  the  first 
charge  against  him. 

To  the  second  article  he  made  reply,  "  There  is,  my 
lord,  a  change  in  the  bread  and  wine,  and  such  a  change 
as  no  power  but  the  omnipotency  of  God  can  make,  in  that 
that  which  before  was  bread  should  now  have  the  dignity 
to  exhibit  Christie  body;  and  yet  the  bread  is  still  bread, 
and  the  wine  still  wine ;  for  the  change  is  not  in  the  nature 
but  the  dignity,  because  now  that  which  was  common 
bread  hath  the  dignity  to  exhibit  Christ's  body:  for  whereas 
it  was  common  bread,  it  is  now  no  more  common  bread, 
neither  ought  it  to  be  so  taken,  but  as  holy  bread,  sanctified 
by  God's  word." 

Here  the  bishop  of  Lincoln  smiled,  saying,  "  Lo,  master 
Latimer,  see  what  steadfastness  is  in  your  doctrine.  That 
which  you  abhorred  and  despised  most,  you  now  most  esta- 
blish ;  for  whereas  you  most  railed  at  holy  bread,  you  now 
make  your  communion  holy  bread."  He  alluded  to  one 
of  the  idle  superstitions  of  his  church,  in  distributing  to  the 
people  what  went  by  that  name :  an  abuse  which  bishop 
Latimer  had  endeavoured  to  put  down  in  his  diocese.  The 
martyr  indignant  at  his  quibbling,  replied,  "  Tush,  a  rush 
for  holy  bread.     I  say  the  bread  in  the  communion  is  holy 

MARTYROLOGY. VOL.  II.  4 


38  BISHOP   LATIMER, 

bread  indeed."  Lincoln  interrupted  him ;  "  O,  ye  make  a 
difference  between  holy  bread  and  holy  bread;"  at  which 
the  audience  again  laughed.  "  Well,  master  Latimer,  is 
not  this  your  answer.  That  the  substance  of  bread  and 
wine  remaineth  after  consecration?"  He  replied,  "Yes, 
verily,  it  must  needs  be  so.  For  Christ  himself  calleth  it 
bread,  St.  Paul  calleth  it  bread,  the  doctors  confess  the 
same,  the  nature  of  a  sacrament  confirmeth  the  same;  and 
I  call  it  holy  bread,  not  in  that  I  make  no  diflference  be- 
twixt your  holy  bread  and  this,  but  for  the  holy  office 
which  it  beareth;  that  is,  to  be  a  figure  of  Christ's  body: 
and  not  only  a  bare  figure,  but  effectually  to  represent 
the  same."  This  answer  was,  of  course,  also  taken 
affirmatively.  Lincoln  then  asked  what  he  said  to  the 
fourth  article,  and  recited  it.  Latimer  giving  no  reply,  he 
asked  if  he  had  not  heard  him  ;  to  which  he  answered  that 
he  heard,  but  did  not  understand  what  he  meant.  Lincoln 
said  that  it  meant  that  his  assertions  had  been  condemned 
by  Weston  as  heresies;  on  which  Latimer  observed,  "  Yes, 
I  think  they  were  condemned;  but  how  unjustly,  he  that 
shall  be  judge  of  all  knoweth."  The  notaries  took  this  an- 
swer affirmatively.  To  the  fifth  article,  stating  that  these 
his  assertions  were  notoriously  evil  spoken  of,  and  yet  com- 
mon and  frequent  in  the  mouths  of  the  people,  the  good 
bishop  replied,  "  I  cannot  tell  how  much,  nor  what  men 
talk  of  them.  I  come  not  so  much  among  them,  in  that  I 
have  been  secluded  a  long  time.  What  men  report  of  them 
I  know  not,  nor  care  not."  When  this  answer  was  taken, 
Lincoln  said  they  did  not  mean  his  replies  to  be  prejudicial 
to  him :  on  the  morrow  he  should  have  liberty  to  alter  what 
he  pleased;  trusting  he  might  then  have  pondered  the  mat- 
ter so  well  as  to  confess  what  they  call  the  truth. 

"  Now,  my  lord,"  said  Latimer,  "  I  pray  you  give  me 
license  in  three  words  to  declare  why  I  have  refused  the 
authority  of  the  pope."  "  Nay,  Mr.  Latimer,"  replied  Lin- 
coln, "  to-morrow  you  shall  have  license  to  speak  forty 
words."  The  martyr  entreated  that  he  might  not  be  com- 
pelled to  appear  again  on  the  morrow,  assuring  them  that 
any  respite  was  vain;  but  he  was  told  there  was  no  re- 
medy; he  must  needs  appear  at  eight  o'clock  on  the  follow- 
ing morning.  He  was  then  dismissed,  in  custody  of  the 
mayor. 

The  next  day,  being  the  first  of  October,  the  lords  re- 
paired to  St.  Mary's  church,  seating  themselves  on  a  high 


BISHOP    RIDLEY.  39 

throne,  well  trimmed  with  tissue  and  silk.  At  some  dis- 
tance from  their  feet  was  placed  a  framed  table,  covered 
with  a  silken  cloth,  where  sat  bishop  Ridley:  while  benches 
on  the  four  sides  around  it  accommodated  the  heads  of  the 
university,  with  many  gentlemen  who,  on  account  of  its 
being  also  sessions'  day,  were  in  town,  and  attended  the 
trial.  A  frame  surrounded  the  seats,  to  keep  off  the  press; 
for  the  whole  university,  and  the  townspeople  too,  were  as- 
sembled to  see  the  end  of  these  two  confessors.  Silence  be- 
ing commanded,  Lincoln  addressed  Ridley  as  before,  touch- 
ing his  lack  of  cap-service  to  the  lord  cardinal's  grace,  as 
legate  to  the  pope.  At  the  mention  of  his  holiness'  name, 
all  the  bishops  uncovered  their  heads,  save  Ridley,  who 
moved  not.  He  was  then  menaced  with  a  forcible  removal 
of  the  obnoxious  cap,  as  before;  to  which  he  replied,  by 
repeating  his  quiet  but  firm  protestation,  and  the  cap  was 
hastily  and  rudely  snatched  off  by  an  attendant  beadle. 

Then  the  bishop  of  Lincoln  referred  to  his  answer  to  the 
first  article,  on  the  preceding  day,  as  having  been  unsatis- 
factory to  them  ;  stating  that  they  had  allowed  him  the  use 
of  pen,  ink,  and  paper,  with  books,  with  leave  to  alter  his 
former  answers;  and  they  were  then  assembled  to  learn  if 
he  was  still  in  the  same  mind,  or  would  revoke  his  former 
assei'tions,  and  in  all  points  submit  to  the  determination  of 
the  church.  With  cap  in  hand,  he  very  earnestly  besought 
Ridley  so  to  do ;  not,  he  said,  because  his  conscience  pricked 
him,  as  Ridley  supposed,  but  because  he  saw  him  to  be  a 
rotten  member,  and  in  the  way  of  perdition.  He  then  en- 
deavoured to  establish  the  correctness  of  his  former  inter- 
pretation of  St.  Augustine.  Ridley  maintained  his  first 
opinion  of  it;  and  after  long  disputation  Lincoln  pro- 
posed to  decide  the  point  by  a  reference  to  other  doctors, 
from  several  of  whom  he  rehearsed  passages:  but  Ridley 
demanded  both  a  refei'ence  to  the  places  and  an  exact 
recital  of  the  very  words  used  by  each  author,  to  avoid 
a  misinterpretation.  It  then  appeared  that  the  book  from 
which  Lincoln  was  reading,  was  only  a  compilation  of 
extracts,  made  by  some  student;  and  those  not  literally 
given.  He  next  offered  to  show  that  Philip  Melancthon 
had  adjudged  the  matter  of  the  sacrament  against  Ridley, 
and  called  for  the  book  to  pi'ove  it :  but  as  they  had 
taken  good  care,  a  short  time  before,  to  burn  all  Melanc- 
thon's  works,  it  was  not  forthcoming.  His  last  essay  was 
to  prove,  by  an  argument  so  absurd  that  it  made  Rid- 


40  BISHOP    RIDLEY. 

ley  smile,  that  if  altars  were  pulled  down  in  England,  Christ 
was  not  come ;  because  Cyrillus  had  endeavoured  to  prove 
to  the  Jews  that  Christ  was  come,  by  the  fact  of  altars 
being  erected  to  his  name,  in  Britain  and  far  countries. 
The  martyr  not  only  explained  the  true  sense  of  the  pas- 
sage, but  strengthened  his  own  argument  by  it ;  saying  in 
conclusion,  "  As  for  the  taking  down  of  the  altars,  it  was 
done  upon  just  considerations,  for  that  they  seemed  to  come 
too  nigh  to  the  Jews'  usage.  Neither  was  the  supper  of 
the  Lord  at  any  time  better  ministered,  more  duly  received, 
than  in  those  latter  days  when  all  things  were  brought  to 
the  rites  and  usage  of  the  primitive  church."  Lincoln  rude- 
ly exclaimed,  "A  goodly  receiving  I  promise  you,  to  set  an 
oyster  table  instead  of  an  altar,  and  to  come  from  puddings 
at  Westminster  to  receive !  and  yet  when  your  table  was 
constituted  you  never  could  be  content,  in  placing  the  same 
now  east,  now  north,  now  one  way,  now  another,  until  it 
pleased  God  of  his  goodness  to  put  it  clean  out  of  the 
church." 

Ridley  replied,  "Your  lordship's  unreverent  terms  do 
not  elevate  the  thing.  Perhaps  some  men  came  more  de- 
voutly from  puddings,  than  other  men  do  now  from  other 
things."  Here  Lincoln  told  him  he  should  judge  no  man; 
and  proceeded  in  all  haste  to  call  over  the  articles,  saying 
that  if  he  had  brought  his  answer  to  the  first  in  writing 
they  would  receive  it ;  but  if  he  had  written  any  other  mat- 
ter, they  would  not  receive  it.  Ridley  took  a  sheet  of 
paper  out  of  his  bosom,  and  commenced  reading  it,  but  a 
beadle  was  ordered  to  take  it  from  him.  He  demanded 
license  to  go  on,  saying  it  was  nothing  but  his  answers ; 
and  on  being  refused,  he  remonstrated  against  the  injustice 
of  requiring  his  answer  and  then  denying  him  liberty 
to  publish  it,  for  the  audience  to  judge  between  them.  He 
was  told  by  the  bishops  they  would  examine  it,  and  if  it 
seemed  good  to  them,  it  should  be  published  ;  if  he  refused 
this,  they  would  not  take  his  answer  at  all.  Seeing  no 
remedy,  he  gave  it  up  to  the  officer,  who  handed  it  to  Lin- 
coln, who,  after  privately  communicating  with  the  other 
bishops,  declared  the  purport  of  the  paper,  but  said  he  would 
not  read  what  was  written,  as  it  contained  blasphemy,  with 
which  he  would  not  fill  the  ears  of  the  audience,  and  abuse 
their  patience.  Ridley  very  earnestly  pressed  its  publica- 
tion, declaring  that,  except  a  line  or  two,  it  contained  no- 
thing but  the  sayings  of  the  ancient  doctors  in  confirmation 


BISHOP    RIDLEY.  41 

of  his  assertion.  All  his  entreaties  were  vain:  Lincoln 
persisted  that  it  was  blasphemous,  and  unfit  to  be  read ; 
reciting  again  the  first  article,  and  requiring  an  answer. 
Ridley  relerred  him  to  what  he  had  written,  both  then,  and 
at  his  former  examination  before  Weston.  The  like  refer- 
ence he  gave,  on  being  questioned  as  to  the  second  article; 
and  so  on  of  all  the  rest. 

Then  the  bishop  of  Gloucester  thus  commenced  an 
harangue,  "  If  you'd  once  empty  your  stomach,  captivate 
your  senses,  subdue  your  reason,  and  together  with  us  con- 
sider what  a  feeble  ground  of  your  religion  you  have,  I  do 
not  doubt  but  you  might  easily  be  perduced  to  acknowledge 
one  church  with  us,  to  confess  one  faith  with  us,  and  to  be- 
lieve one  religion  with  us.  For  what  a  weak  and  feeble 
stay  in  religion  is  this,  I  pray  you — Latimer  leaneth  to 
Cranmer,  Cranmer  to  Ridley,  and  Ridley  to  the  singularity 
of  his  own  wit :  so  that,  if  you  overthrow  the  singularity 
of  Ridley's  wit,  then  must  needs  the  religion  of  Cranmer 
and  Latimer  fall  also."  He  reminded  him  of  the  prophet's 
denunciation  of  woe  to  them  that  are  wise  in  their  own 
conceits,  which  he  declared  Ridley  to  be,  because  he  refused 
the  determination  of  the  church,  and  brought  Scripture  to 
prove  his  assertions;  they  also,  he  said,  brought  Scripture; 
but  Ridley  understood  the  Scriptures  in  one  sense,  they  in 
another  ;  who  was  to  judge  between  them  1  If  he  followed 
his  own  interpretation,  then  he  was  wise  in  his  own  con- 
ceit :  if  he  said  he  would  be  led  by  the  ancient  doctors  and 
fathers,  he  also  differed  from  themselves  in  the  construc- 
tion to  be  put  on  their  writings,  and  abiding  by  his  private 
views  of  them  he  was  still  wise  in  his  own  conceit.  On 
this  pithy  argument  he  grounded  the  necessity  of  blind  sub- 
mission to  the  church  in  all  matters  of  controversy,  remind- 
ing him  how  the  Arians  and  other  heretics  had  been  there- 
by convinced.  Of  these  materials  he  made  a  very  long 
oration,  still  urging  Ridley  to  escape  the  prophetical  woe 
by  submitting  his  judgment  and  reason  to  the  church. 
When  he  had  finished,  bishop  Ridley  answered  briefly  that 
he  saw  not  how  that  woe  affected  him ;  and  denied  that 
Cranmer  leaned  to  him,  being  greatly  before  him  in  years, 
and  learning;  and  meet  to  be  his  schoolmaster.  Glouces- 
ter replied  that  Latimer  had  referred  to  Cranmer,  and  he 
to  Ridley:  and  then  Lincoln  again,  holding  his  cap  in 
hand,  most  affectionately  urged  him  to  recant.  He  an- 
swered, firmly,  that  he  was  fully  persuaded  the  religion  he 
4* 


42  BISHOP    RIDLEY. 

defended  was  grounded  upon  God's  word ;  and  therefore 
without  great  offence  to  God,  great  peril  and  damage  of 
his  soul,  he  could  not  forsake  his  Master  and  Lord  God ; 
but  he  desired  the  bishop  to  perform  his  grant,  having  pro- 
mised the  day  before  that  he  should  have  license  to  show 
cause  why  he  could  not,  with  a  safe  conscience,  admit  the 
authority  of  the  pope.  Lincoln  acknowledged  that,  where- 
as he  had  demanded  to  speak  three  words,  he  was  content 
to  let  him  speak  forty,  and  would  perform  the  grant. 

Here  Weston  stepped  forth,  saying,  "  Why,  my  lord,  he 
hath  spoken  four  hundred  already."  Ridley  admitted  this, 
but  pleaded  that  they  were  not  of  the  prescribed  number, 
nor  of  that  matter.  Lincoln,  with  a  treacherous  and  insult- 
ing mockery  for  which  there  is  no  parallel,  bade  him  take 
his  license;  and  added  he  should  speak  but  forty,  as  he 
would  tell  them  on  his  fingers.  Ridley  began  to  speak; 
but  before  he  had  ended  half  a  sentence,  the  doctors  sitting 
by  cried  that  his  number  was  out;  and  he  was  instantly 
silenced.  The  bishop  of  Lincoln  then  regretted  that  they 
must  proceed  in  their  cornmission,  taking  God  to  witness 
that  he  was  sorry  for  Mr.  Ridley:  who  replied,  "  I  believe 
it  well,  my  lord ;  forasmuch  as  it  will  one  day  be  burden- 
ous  to  your  soul,"  Lincoln  denied  this,  and  forthwith  read 
the  sentence  of  condemnation,  setting  forth  that  Nicholas 
Ridley,  for  stubbornly  affirming  and  defending  certain  her- 
esies, first,  in  denying  the  true  and  natural  body  of  Christ 
and  his  natural  blood  to  be  in  the  sacrament  of  the  altar ; 
secondly,  in  affirming  the  substance  of  bread  and  wine  to 
remain  after  consecration ;  thirdly,  in  denying  the  mass  to 
be  a  lively  sacrifice  of  the  church,  for  the  quick  and  the 
dead,  and'  as  he  could  by  no  means  be  persuaded  from  his 
heresies,  was  adjudged  a  heretic,  sentenced  to  be  degraded 
from  the  degree  of  a  bishop,  from  priesthood,  and  all  eccle- 
siastical order,  and,  as  being  no  longer  a  member  of  the 
church,  to  be  delivered  over  to  the  secular  powers,  of  them 
to  receive  due  punishment,  according  to  the  tenor  of  the 
temporal  laws  :  and  further  excommunicating  him  by  the 
great  excommunication. 


RIDLEV    AND    LATIMER.  43 


CHAPTER  III. 


BISHOPS    RIDLEY    AND    LATIMER. 


Having  so  far  completed  their  crime  against  God's  faith- 
ful servant,  Ridley,  and  given  him  into  the  custody  of  the 
mayor,  these  wretched  men  proceeded  to  call  before  them 
the  aged  Latimer,  for  the  same  wicked  purpose.  But  as 
nothing  is  too  trivial  to  engage  the  attention  of  the  apostate 
church,  where  she  can  exhibit  the  bitterness  of  her  deadly 
hatred  against  Christ,  in  the  persons  of  his  saints,  the  cloth 
which  had.  covered  the  table  where  Ridley  sat  was  removed, 
on  the  plea  that  Latimer  had  never,  like  him,  obtained  the 
degree  of  a  doctor.  When  the  good  old  bishop  appeared, 
and  found  only  the  bare  table  before  him,  he  composedly 
laid  down  his  hat,  an  old  felt,  and  resting  his  elbows  upon 
it,  he  immediately  addressed  the  commissioners,  saying, 
"  My  lords,  I  beseech  your  lordships  to  set  a  better  order 
here  at  your  entrance:  for  I  am  an  old  man,  and  have  a 
very  evil  back,  so  that  the  press  of  the  multitude  doth  me 
much  harm."  Lincoln  replied,  that  he  was  sorry  for  his 
hurt;  and  promised  to  see  to  better  order  at  his  departure. 
Latimer  thanked  him  with  a  very  low  obeisance;  and  Lin- 
coln went  on  to  exhort,  and  to  inquire  whether  he  was  still 
the  same  man  as  yesterday,  or  whether  he  would  recant, 
revoke  his  errors,  and  return  to  the  catholic  church.  He 
was  soon  interrupted  by  the  prisoner,  who  said,  "  Your 
lordship  often  doth  repeat  the  catholic  church,  as  though  1 
should  deny  the  same.  No,  my  lord,  I  confess  there  is  a 
catholic  church,  to  the  determination  of  which  I  will  stand ; 
but  not  the  church  which  you  call  catholic,  which  rather 
should  be  termed  diabolic.  And  whereas  you  join  together 
the  Romish  and  catholic  church,  stay  there,  1  pray  you: 
for  it  is  one  thing  to  say  Romish  church,  and  another  thing 
to  say  catholic  church.  I  must  use  here  in  this  mine  answer, 
the  counsel  of  Cyprian,  who,  at  what  time  he  was  cited 
before  certain  bishops  that  gave  him  leave  to  take  determi- 
nation and  counsel,  to  try  and  examine  his  opinion,  he  an- 
swereth  them  thus:  In  sticking  and  persevering  in  the  truth, 
there  must  no  counsel  or  determination  be  taken.  And 
again,  being  demanded  of  them  sittmg  in  judgment,  which 
was  the  most  like  to  be  the  church  of  Christ,  whether  he 


44  BISHOP   LATIMER. 

which  was  persecuted,  or  they  which  did  persecute?  Christ, 
said  he,  has  foreshowed  that  he  that  doth  follow  him  must 
take  up  his  cross  and  follow  him.  Christ  gave  knowledge 
that  the  disciples  should  have  persecution  and  trouble.  How 
think  you  then,  my  lords,  is  it  like  that  the  see  of  Rome, 
which  hath  been  a  continual  persecutor,  is  rather  the 
church,  or  that  small  flock  which  hath  continually  been 
persecuted  of  it,  even  to  death  1  Also,  the  flock  of  Christ 
hath  been  but  few  in  comparison  to  the  residue,  and  ever 
in  subjection."  This  he  proved,  beginning  at  Noah's  time, 
even  to  the  apostles. 

Lincoln  denied  that  his  cause  and  Cyprian's  were  the 
same :  but  Latimer  interrupted  him  saying,  "  Yes,  verily, 
my  cause  is  as  good  as  St.  Cyprian's:  for  his  was  for  the 
word  of  God,  and  so  is  mine."  Lincoln  continued  main- 
taining that  before  Christ's  coming,  there  were  very  few 
who  served  God :  that  at  the  beginning  of  -what  he  called 
the  time  of  grace,  it  could  not  be  but  that  the  apostles  must 
suffer  some  persecution,  but  that  now,  the  church  having 
arrived  at  perfection,  and  obtained  the  jurisdiction  which 
unchristian  princes  formerly  resisted,  there  was  a  great 
change  in  its  estate.  Having  thus,  to  his  own  satisfaction, 
disposed  of  tribulation,  as  being  no  longer  a  mark  of 
Christ's  church,  he  informed  Latimer  that  he  must  answer 
again  to  the  articles,  in  the  hope  of  showing  some  change 
in  his  opinions.  They  were  recited;  and  answered  as  be- 
fore. To  the  third  article,  respecting  the  mass,  a  determi- 
nate reply  being  demanded,  he  said,  "  Christ  made  one 
oblation  and  sacrifice  for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world,  and 
that  a  perfect  sacrifice :  neither  needeth  there  to  be  any 
other,  neither  can  there  be  any  other  propitiatory  sacri- 
fice." 

To  this  followed  a  final  exhortation  to  recant,  which  he 
answered  by  saying  that  he  neither  could  nor  would  deny 
his  Master,  Christ,  and  his  verity.  The  condemnation  was 
read,  and  then  the  bishops  broke  up  their  session  and  dis- 
missed the  audience.  Bishop  Latimer  reminded  Lincoln 
of  his  promise  to  let  him  declare  why  he  refused  the  pope's 
authority;  but  Lincoln  said  he  could  not  now  hear  him, 
neither  ought  to  talk  with  him.  Latimer  asked  if  it  was  not 
lawful  for  him  to  appeal  from  this  judgment :  Lincoln  in- 
quired, to  whom  he  would  appeal?  "  To  the  next  general 
council,"  said  Latimer,  "  which  shall  be  truly  called  in 
God's  name."  To  this  appellation  the  other  assented;  add- 


BISHOP    RIDLEY.  45 

ing,  however,  that  it  would  be  a  long  season  before  such  a 
convocation  as  he  meant  would  be  called. 

The  people  still  pressed  in  undiminished  numbers,  ex- 
pecting some  further  process;  but  the  mockery  of  a  trial 
was  concluded:  Lincoln  delivered  his  innocent  victim  to  the 
mayor,  commanded  the  people  to  disperse,  and  directed  that 
Latimer  should  wait  till  the  crowd  was  thinned,  lest  he 
should  take  hurt  at  his  egress  as  he  did  at  his  entrance. 
He  was  then  led  to  prison. 

Nearly  a  fortnight  having  elapsed  since  the  condemna- 
tion of  these  faithful  pastors,  and  no  hope  appearing  that 
their  constancy  might  be  shaken,  it  was  deemed  expedient 
to  perpetrate  forthwith  the  crowning  act  of  murder.  Pre- 
paratory to  this,  they  must  be  degraded ;  for  the  church  of 
Rome  is  too  cunningly  watchful  over  the  immunities  of  her 
privileged  order  to  deliver  them  up  to  a  temporal  jurisdic- 
tion, until  she  has  formally  cast  them  out  of  her  ecclesias- 
tical pale.  Brooks,  bishop  of  Gloucester,  being  entrusted 
with  the  office,  went  on  the  15th  of  October  to  the  house 
of  Mr.  Irish,  where  bishop  Ridley  was  closely  imprisoned, 
taking  with  him  the  vice-chancellor  of  Oxford,  and  other 
principal  men  of  the  university.  He  told  Ridley  the  pur- 
pose of  their  coming,  and  again  endeavoured  to  turn  him 
away  from  the  faith,  offering  the  royal  pardon  on  that  con- 
dition: otherwise  they  must  proceed  according  to  law, 
though  against  their  wills.  "  We  have,"  said  he,  "  been 
oftentimes  with  you ;  and  have  requested  that  you  would 
recant  this  your  fantastical  and  devilish  opinion,  which 
hitherto  you  have  not,  although  you  might  in  so  doing  win 
many,  and  do  much  good."  These  words  account  for  the 
anxiety  evinced  by  the  persecuting  party  for  the  recantation 
of  men  whom  they  personally  hated,  and  whose  blood 
they  longed  to  shed.  Proportioned  to  their  high  standing 
in  the  estimation  of  Christ's  flock,  was  the  power  of  their 
example:  and  as  their  constancy  unto  death  was  blessed 
to  the  confirmation  of  many  in  the  truth  for  which  they 
willingly  suffered,  so  would  their  apostasy  have  led  a  yet 
greater  multitude  to  follow  them  in  doing  evil.  It  is  griev- 
ous to  find,  that,  even  where  charity  would  hope  to  discern 
a  reluctance  to  shed  innocent  blood  on  the  part  of  those 
unrighteous  judges,  they  frequently  betrayed  that  their  ob- 
ject was,  by  compassing  sea  and  land  to  gain  one  prose- 
lyte, in  order  to  strengthen  their  party,  and  more  speedily 
and  effectually  to  quench  the  light  of  truth.     Gloucester 


46  BISHOP    RIDLEY. 

continued,  "  Therefore,  good  Mr.  Ridley,  consider  with 
yourself  the  danger  that  shall  ensue  both  of  body  and  soul, 
if  that  you  shall  so  wilfully  cast  yourself  away  in  refusing 
mercy  offered  unto  you  at  this  time." 

The  martyr  replied,  "  My  lord,  you  know  my  mind  fully 
herein ;  and  as  ibr  the  doctrine  which  I  have  taught,  my 
conscience  assurelh  me  that  it  was  sound,  and  according  to 
God's  word  (to  his  glory  be  it  spoken);  the  which  doctrine, 
the  Lord  God  being  my  helper,  I  will  maintain  so  long  as 
my  tongue  shall  wag,  and  breath  is  within  my  body,  and 
in  confirmation  thereof  seal  the  same  with  my  blood." 

"  Well,  you  were  best,  Mr.  Ridley,  not  to  do  so,  but  to 
become  one  of  the  church  with  us.  For  you  know  this 
well  enough,  that  whosoever  is  out  of  the  catholic  church 
cannot  be  saved :  therefore,  I  say  once  again,  that  whiles 
you  have  time  and  mercy  offered  you,  receive  it ;  and  con- 
fess with  us  the  pope's  holiness  to  be  the  chief  head  of  the 
same  church." 

"  I  marvel,"  answered  Ridley,  "  that  you  will  trouble  me 
with  any  such  vain  and  foolish  talk.  You  know  my  mind 
concerning  the  usurped  authority  of  that  Romish  Antichrist. 
As  I  confessed  openly  in  the  schools,  so  do  I  now,  that  both 
by  my  behaviour  and  talk  I  do  no  obedience  at  all  unto  the 
bishop  of  Rome,  nor  to  his  usurped  authority,  and  that  for 
divers  good  and  godly  considerations."  Here  he  attempted 
to  reason  with  Brooks  on  the  subject,  but  the  latter  would 
not  suffer  it;  nevertheless  Ridley  continued  to  speak  so 
earnestly  against  the  pope  that  the  other  told  him  if  he  did 
not  hold  his  peace,  he  should  be  compelled  against  his  will 
to  do  so.  The  gag  was  no  unusual  weapon  of  defence 
against  those  who  spoke  with  a  wisdom  and  power  not  to 
be  gainsaid  or  resisted  otherwise.  Gloucester  added  that 
seeing  he  would  not  receive  the  queen's  mercy,  they  must 
go  on  to  degrade  him  from  the  dignity  of  priesthood :  say- 
ing moreover,  "  we  take  you  for  no  bishop,  and  therefore 
we  will  the  sooner  have  done  with  you,  committing  you  to 
the  secular  power:  you  know  what  doth  follow."  "  Do  with 
me  as  it  shall  please  God  to  suffer  you,"  was  the  reply;  "  I 
am  well  content  to  abide  the  same  with  all  my  heart." 

Brooks  desired  him  to  put  off  his  cap  and  put  upon  him 
the  surplice:  he  answered,  "  I  will  not."  "  But  you  must." 
"  I  will  not."  "  You  must:  therefore  make  no  more  ado, 
but  put  this  surplice  upon  you."  "  Truly,  if  it  come  upon 
me,  it  shall  be  against  my  will."  "Will  you  not  put  it  upon 


BISHOP    RIDLEY.  47 

you?"  "  No,  that  I  will  not."  "  It  shall  be  put  upon  you 
by  someone  or  other."  "  Do  therein  as  it  shall  please  you; 
I  am  well  contented  with  that,  and  more  than  that ;  the 
servant  is  not  above  his  Master.  If  they  dealt  so  cruelly 
with  our  Saviour  Christ,  as  the  Scripture  maketh  mention, 
and  he  suffered  the  same  patiently,  how  much  more  doth 
it  become  us,  his  servants'?" 

The  surplice  was  then  forcibly  put  on  him,  with  all  the 
trinkets  appertaining  to  the  mass :  during  which  he  vehe- 
mently inveighed  against  the  Romish  bishop,  calling  him 
Antichrist,  and  the  apparel  foolish  and  abominable,  too 
fond  for  a  vice  in  a  play.  This  made  Dr.  Brooks  very 
angry:  he  bade  him  hold  his  peace,  for  that  he  did  but  rail. 
The  Christian  martyr  replied,  so  long  as  his  tongue  and 
breath  would  suffer  him,  he  would  speak  against  their 
abominable  doings  whatsoever  happened  unto  him  for  it. 
Here  the  Greek  lecturer  of  the  university  standing  by, 
counselled  that  he  should  be  gagged.  Dr.  Ridley  looked 
earnestly  at  him,  shook  his  head,  and  with  a  sigh  ejacula- 
ted, "  Oh,  well,  well,  well."  Nevertheless,  as  they  pro- 
ceeded in  their  fantastic  tricks,  he  continually  spoke  the 
most  unwelcome  things,  in  spite  of  their  reproaches,  and 
menaces  of  gagging  him. 

When  they  came  to  the  place  where  he  should  hold  the 
chalice  and  wafer-cake,  they  bade  him  take  them  into  his 
hands:  he  replied,  "  They  shall  not  come  into  my  hands  : 
and  if  they  do,  they  shall  fall  to  the  ground  for  me."  An 
attendant  was  obliged  to  hold  them  fast  in  his  hands  while 
Brooks  read  a  certain  thing  in  Latin,  appertaining  to  that 
part  of  the  performance.  Next  they  placed  a  book  in  his 
hand,  while  Brooks  recited  the  passage,  "  We  do  take  from 
you  the  ofRce  of  preaching  the  gospel,"  &;c.  At  these 
words  Dr.  Ridley  gave  a  great  sigh,  and  looking  up  towards 
heaven,  said,  "  O  Lord  God,  forgive  them  this  their  wick- 
edness!" The  massing  garments  being  taken  off  one  by 
one,  till  the  surplice  only  was  left,  they  proceeded  to  the 
last  step  of  the  degradation,  by  deposing  him  from  being  a 
singing-man.  Here  he  deridingly  exclaimed  at  their  won- 
derful power,  at  being  able  to  take  from  a  man  that  which 
he  never  had ;  saying  that  he  never  was  a  singer  in  all  his 
life,  yet  they  were  taking  that  office  from  him. 

When  this  ridiculous  business  had  been  solemnly  ended, 
Ridley  asked  Brooks  if  he  had  done;  as,  if  so,  he  wished  to 
talk  a  little  with  him  of  those  matters :  but  Gloucester  re- 


48  BISHOP    RIDLEY. 

plied  that  he  was  now  out  of  the  church,  and  the  law  for- 
bade his  talking  with  any  such.  Ridley  observed,  "  See- 
ing that  you  will  not  suffer  me  to  talk,  neither  will  vouch- 
safe to  hear  me,  what  remedy  but  patience?  I  refer  my 
cause  to  my  heavenly  Father,  who  will  reform  things  that 
be  amiss,  when  it  shall  please  him."  As  they  prepared 
to  go,  he  entreated  Brooks  to  read  a  little  book  of  Ber- 
tram's concerning  the  sacrament,  promising  he  would  find 
much  good  learning  in  it,  if  he  would  read  it  with  indiffer- 
ent judgment.  No  answer  being  returned  to  this,  he  re- 
marked, "  Oh,  I  perceive  that  you  cannot  away  with  this 
manner  of  talk.  Well  it  boots  not ;  I  will  say  no  more,  I 
will  speak  of  worldly  affairs."  He  then  requested  Glou- 
cester to  be  a  means  of  supplicating  the  queen  on  behalf  of 
many  poor  persons,  particularly  his  own  sister  and  her 
husband  then  present :  they  had,  he  said,  a  poor  living 
granted  to  them  by  him,  when  he  was  bishop  of  London, 
which  was  taken  away  by  him  who  now  occupied  his  place, 
without  law  or  conscience.  It  has  already  been  stated 
how  barbarously  the  ungrateful  Bonner  acted  in  this  mat- 
ter: Ridley  had  drawn  up  a  petition  to  the  queen,  which  he 
now  requested  Brooks  to  hear  him  read,  but  when  he  came 
to  name  his  poor  sister,  he  wept,  and  for  a  time  could  not 
speak  for  weeping.  Recovering  himself  he  said,  "  This 
is  nature  which  moveth  me;  but  I  have  done  now;"  and  so 
read  to  the  end :  after  which  he  delivered  the  paper  to  his 
brother,  charging  him  to  make  the  same  supplication  for  all 
who  had  any  leases  or  grants  from  him,  and  were  deprived 
by  Bonner,  that  he  should  do  for  himself.  This  scene  ap- 
pears to  have  touched  the  stony  heart  of  Brooks ;  for  he 
kindly  said,  "  Indeed,  Mr.  Ridley,  your  request  in  this  sup- 
plication is  very  lawful  and  honest :  therefore  I  must  needs 
in  conscience  speak  to  the  queen's  majesty  for  them."  "  I 
pray  you  for  God's  sake  to  do  so,"  said  Ridley;  to  which 
Brooks  artfully  rejoined.  "  I  think  your  request  will  be 
granted,  except  one  thing  let  it ;  and  that  is,  I  fear,  because 
you  do  not  allow  the  queen's  proceedings,  but  obstinately 
withstand  the  same,  that  it  will  hardly  be  granted."  But 
the  martyr's  constancy  was  not  to  be  shaken  by  the  plead- 
ings of  brotherly  tenderness  in  his  heart :  he  replied  "  What 
remedy?  I  can  do  no  more  but  speak  and  write.  I  trust 
I  have  discharged  my  conscience  therein,  and  God's  will 
be  done." 

"  I  will  do  what  lieth  in  me,"  said  Brooks,  and  immedi- 


BISHOP    RIDLEY.  49' 

ately  calling  the  bailiffs  he  delivered  the  prisoner  to  them, 
with  this  charge,  that  they  should  keep  him  safely  from 
any  man  speaking  to  him,  and  bring  him  to  the  place  of 
execution  whenever  they  were  commanded.  On  hearing 
this,  God's  dear  servant  burst  out  into  tliese  expressions, 
"  God,  I  thank  thee,  and  to  thy  praise  be  it  spolcen,  there 
is  none  of  you  all  able  to  lay  to  my  chai'ge  any  open  or  no- 
torious crime;  for  if  you  could,  it  should  surely  be  laid  in 
my  lap,  I  see  very  well."  Brooks  told  him  he  played  the 
jiart  of  a  proud  pharisee,  exalting  and  praising  himself. 
"  No,  no,"  he  answered,  "  as  I  said  before,  to  God's  glory 
be  it  spoken.  I  confess  myself  to  be  a  miserable,  wretched 
sinner,  and  have  great  need  of  God's  help  and  mercy,  and 
do  daily  call  and  cry  for  the  same;  therefore,  I  pray  you, 
have  no  such  opinion  of  me." 

As  they  departed,  a  warden  of  one  of  the  colleges  ex- 
horted him  to  repent,  and  to  forsake  his  erroneous  opinion. 
The  bishop  replied,  "  Sir,  repent  you;  for  you  are  out  of 
the  truth;  and  I  pray  God,  if  it  be  his  blessed  will,  have 
mercy  upon  you,  and  grant  you  the  understanding  of  his 
word."  The  other  in  anger  said,  "  I  trust  that  I  shall  never 
be  of  your  erroneous  and  devilish  opinion,  either  yet  to  be 
in  that  place  whither  you  shall  go:"  adding,  "  He  is  the 
most  obstinate  and  wilful  man  that  ever  I  heard  talk  since 
I  was  born." 

Approaching  so  near  the  blessed  consummation  of  all 
his  hopes.  Dr.  Ridley  became  not  only  joyous,  but  merry. 
He  caused  himself  to  be  washed;  and  as  he  sat  at  supper, 
the  night  before  he  suffei-ed,  he  bade  his  keeper,  Mr.  Irish, 
with  his  wife  and  all  present,  to  his  marriage,  saying,  "To- 
morrow I  must  be  married."  Speaking  of  his  sister,  whom 
he  so  tenderly  loved,  he  wished  her  there,  and  asked  her 
husband,  who  was  present,  whether  she  could  find  in  her 
heart  to  be  there,  or  no  ;  who  answered,  "  Yea,  I  dare  say, 
with  all  her  heart."  On  that  Ridley  observed  he  was  glad 
to  hear  so  much  of  her.  Then  seeing  his  hostess  weeping 
much  at  this  discourse,  he  sweetly  said,  "  Oh,  Mrs.  Irish, 
you  love  me  not  now,  I  see  well  enough ;  for  in  that  you 
weep,  it  doth  appear  you  will  not  be  at  my  marriage,  nei- 
ther are  content  therewith.  Indeed  you  be  not  so  much 
my  friend  as  I  thought  you  had  been.  But  quiet  yourself: 
though  my  breakfast  shall  be  somewhat  sharp  and  painful, 
yet  I  am  sure  my  supper  shall  be  most  pleasant  and  sweet." 
When  they  rose  from  table,  his  brother  offered  to  watch  all 

MARTYROLOGY. VOL.  II.  5 


50  RIDLEY    AND    LATIMER. 

night  with  him ;  but  he  said,  "  No,  no,  that  you  shall  not. 
For  I  mind,  God  willing,  to  go  to  bed,  and  to  sleep  as  qui- 
etly to  night  as  ever  I  did  in  my  life."  His  brother  there- 
fore left  him,  exhorting  him  to  be  of  good  cheer,  and  to 
take  his  cross  quietly,  for  the  reward  was  great. 

On  the  north  side  of  the  town  of  Oxford,  over  against 
Baliol  college,  in  a  ditch  or  hollow,  the  stake  was  set  and 
all  prepared  for  these  faithful  pastors  to  follow  the  steps  of 
the  good  Shepherd  who  laid  down  his  life  for  the  sheep. 
The  guilty  queen,  dreading  an  attempt  at  rescue,  had  com- 
manded lord  Williams  to  attend,  with  a  sufficient  guard  to 
hold  the  people  in  check ;  and  this  being  done,  the  prison- 
ers were  brought  forth  by  the  mayor  and  bailiffs.  First 
came  Dr.  Ridley,  habited  as  a  bishop  was  wont  to  be,  in 
a  fair  black  gown,  furred,  and  faced,  a  velvet  tippet,  also 
furred,  about  his  neck ;  on  his  head  a  velvet  night  cap, 
with  a  cornered  cap  over  it,  and  slippers  on  his  feet.  He 
walked  between  the  mayor  and  an  alderman,  towards  the 
stake. 

After  him  appeared  the  venerable  form  of  old  Latimer, 
clad  in  a  poor  threadbare  frock  of  Bristol  frieze,  with  his 
buttoned  cap,  and  a  kerchief,  on  his  head ;  all  made  ready 
for  the  lire,  as  appeared  by  the  new  long  shroud  that  hung 
over  his  hose  to  his  feet.  A  spectacle,  which,  says  Fox, 
stirred  men's  hearts  to  rue  upon  them,  beholding,  on  the 
one  side  the  honour  they  sometime  had,  and  on  the  other, 
the  calamity  whereunto  they  were  fallen." 

Bishop  Ridley,  as  he  passed  near  Bocardo,  looked  up  to 
the  window,  hoping  to  have  seen  and  spoken  to  Cranmer, 
whom  he  knew  to  be  there  confined.  But  friar  Scott  and 
his  fellows  were  holding  Cranmer  in  disputation,  which 
prevented  his  being  seen  by  his  brethren.  Ridley  then 
looking  back  espied  Latimer  following,  and  said,  "  Oh,  be 
ye  there?"  "  Yea,"  answered  the  old  man,  "  have  after, 
as  fast  as  I  can  follow."  However,  he  could  not  make  all 
the  haste  he  wished;  and  Ridley  first  reached  the  place, 
where  with  a  wonderful  earnestness  he  lifted  up  his  hands, 
looking  towards  heaven :  then,  seeing  Latimer  arrive,  with 
a  most  cheerful  look  he  ran  to  him,  embraced  and  kissed 
him;  speaking  words  of  comfort  and  encouragement ;  "  Be 
of  good  heart,  brother  ;  for  God  will  either  assuage  the  fury 
of  the  flame,  or  else  strengthen  us  to  abide  it." 

He  then  went  to  the  stake,  kneeled  down  by  it,  kissed 
it,  and  fervently  prayed;  Latimer  kneeling  behind  him,  as 


KIDLEY    AND    LATIMER.  51 

earnestly  called  upon  God  as  he.  After  this  they  arose, 
and  had  a  little  space  for  private  conversation  together, 
while  the  men  who  were  to  witness  their  torments  in  the 
burning  flame,  consulted  their  own  ease,  by  shifting  their 
seats  to  a  place  less  exposed  to  the  rays  of  the  sun.  Dr. 
South,  who  had  recanted  in  king  Edward's  time,  was  now 
chosen  to  preach  against  the  martyrs  ;  he  entered  a  pulpit, 
and  took  for  his  text  the  words,  "  Though  I  give  my  body 
to  be  burned,  and  have  not  charity,  it  profiteth  me  nothing ;" 
alleging  that  the  goodness  of  the  cause,  not  the  order  of  the 
death,  made  the  holiness  of  the  person,  confirming  it  by 
the  examples  of  Judas,  and  of  a  woman  in  Oxford  who  had 
lately  hanged  herself  He  said  that  they,  and  other  crimi- 
nals whom  he  named,  might  as  well  be  adjudged  righteous, 
for  desperately  sundering  their  souls  from  their  bodies,  as 
he  feared  those  men  who  stood  before  him  would  do;  still 
crying  to  the  people  to  beware  of  them,  for  they  were  he- 
retics, and  died  out  of  the  church.  Then  he  declared  the 
diversities  of  opinion  among  the  reformers,  classing  them  as 
Lutherans,  Qlicolampadians,  and  Zuinglians,  of  which  latter 
sect  he  said  the  prisoners  were,  and  that  it  was  the  worst ; 
the  old  church  of  Christ,  and  catholic  faith,  holding  far  other- 
wise. At  this,  and  similar  passages  of  his  discourse,  the 
martyrs  lifted  up  their  hands  and  eyes  to  heaven,  as  calling 
upon  God  to  witness  for  His  truth.  South  ended  his  ser- 
mon, of  scarcely  a  quarter  of  an  hour's  duration,  by  very 
briefly  exhorting  them  to  recant,  and  come  home  again  to 
the  church,  to  save  their  lives  and  souls,  which  else  were 
both  condemned. 

Ridley  asked  Latimer,  "  Will  you  begin  to  answer  the  ser- 
mon, or  shall  I  ?"  Latimer  replied,  "  Begin  you  first,  I 
pray  you."  "  I  will,"  said  he ;  and  so,  both  kneeling  to- 
wards lord  Williams,  the  vice-chancellor  of  Oxford,  and 
the  other  commissioners,  who  sat  on  a  form  together,  bishop 
Ridley  addressed  them,  "  I  beseech  you,  my  lord,  even  for 
Christ's  sake,  that  I  may  speak  but  two  or  three  words :" 
but  while  lord  Williams  bent  towards  the  mayor  and  vice- 
chancellor,  seemingly  inquiring  whether  the  request  might 
be  complied  with,  the  latter,  with  the  bailiffs,  ran  hastily  to 
Ridley,  stopping  his  mouth  with  their  hands,  and  saying, 
"  Master  Ridley,  if  you  will  revoke  your  erroneous  opinions, 
and  recant  the  same,  you  shall  not  only  have  liberty  to 
speak,  but  also  the  benefit  of  a  subject,  that  is,  have  your 
life."   "  Not  otherwise?"  asked  Ridley.  "  No,"  said  Mar- 


52  HIDLEY    AND   LATIMER. 

shall,  the  vice-chancellor;  "  therefore  if  you  will  not  do  so, 
then  there  is  no  remedy,  but  you  must  suffer  your  deserts." 
Ridley  answered,  "  Well ;  so  long  as  the  breath  is  in  my 
body,  I  will  never  deny  my  Lord  Christ  and  his  known 
truth.  God's  will  be  done  in  me."  Then,  rising  up,  he 
said  with  a  loud  voice,  "  Well,  then,  I  commit  our  cause  to 
Almighty  God,  which  shall  indifferently  judge  all."  To 
which  Latimer  added  a  frequent  saying  of  his,  "  Well, 
there  is  nothing  hid  but  it  shall  be  opened."  He  also 
remarked  that  he  could  answer  South  well  enough,  if  he 
might  be  allowed  :  but  immediately  they  were  commanded 
to  make  themselves  ready,  and  with  all  meekness  they 
obeyed.  Bishop  Ridley,  taking  off  his  gown  and  tippet, 
gave  them  to  his  brother-in-law,  Shipside,  who  during  the 
whole  time  of  his  imprisonment,  though  not  suffered  to  be 
with  him,  had  yet  at  his  own  expense  lodged  hard  by,  pro- 
viding him  with  necessaries,  which  he  sent  by  the  Serjeant 
who  guarded  him.  Other  parts  of  his  apparel  he  gave 
away;  and  the  rest  the  bailiffs  took :  and  to  some  gentle- 
men standing  by,  he  delivered  various  little  tokens  of  re- 
membrance, which  they  received  with  much  weeping.  To 
Sir  Henry  Lee  he  gave  a  new  groat;  to  others  a  napkin,  a 
nutmeg,  a  race  of  ginger,  his  dial,  and  whatever  trifling 
thing  he  had  about  him.  Such  was  the  eagerness  of  those 
who  stood  near  him  to  secure  a  memorial  of  this  blessed 
martyr,  that  some  to  whom  he  gave  nothing  plucked  the 
points  off  his  hose.  Happy  was  he  who  could  get  any  rag 
of  him. 

Bishop  Latimer  gave  nothing,  but  quietly  suffered  the 
keeper  to  pull  off  his  hose,  and  the  rest  of  his  simple  array; 
and  being  stripped  to  his  shroud,  a  remarkable  change  was 
observed  in  his  appearance ;  for  whereas  he  had  hitherto 
seemed  a  withered,  decrepit,  and  even  a  deformed  old  man, 
he  now  stood  perfectly  upright,  a  straight  and  comely  per- 
son. Ridley  was  disposed  to  remain  in  his  truss,  or  trou- 
sers; but  on  his  brother  observing  that  it  would  occasion 
him  more  pain,  and  that  the  article  of  dress  would  do  some 
poor  man  good,  he  yielded  to  the  latter  plea,  and  saying, 
"  Be  it,  in  the  name  of  God,"  delivered  it  to  his  brother. 
Then,  being  stripped  to  his  shirt,  he  stood  upon  a  stone 
by  the  stake,  and  holding  up  his  hand,  said,  "  O,  hea- 
venly Father,  I  give  unto  thee  most  hearty  thanks,  for 
that  thou  hast  called  me  to  be  a  professor  of  thee,  even 
unto  death:  I  beseech  thee,  Lord  God,  take  mercy  upon 


RIDLEY    AND    LATIMER.  63 

this  realm  of  England,  and  deliver  ihe  same  from  all  her 
enemies." 

The  smith  now  brought  a  chain,  and  passed  it  round  the 
bodies  of  the  two  martyrs,  as  they  quietly  stood  on  either 
side  of  the  stake:  while  he  was  hammering  the  staple  into 
the  wood,  Ridley  took  the  chain  in  his  hand,  and  shaking 
it,  said,  "  Good  fellow,  knock  it  in  hard,  for  the  flesh  will 
have  its  course."  This  being  done,  Shipside  brought  him 
some  gunpowder  in  a  bag  to  tie  round  his  neck ;  which  he 
received  as  sent  of  God,  to  be  a  means  of  shortening  his 
torment;  at  the  same  time  inquiring  whether  he  had  any 
for  his  brother,  meaning  Latimer,  and  hastening  him  to 
give  it  immediately,  lest  it  might  come  too  late;  which  was 
done.  One  more  instance  of  the  tender  concern  for  others 
which  filled  the  sweet  spirit  of  this  holy  man,  remained  to 
be  given :  he  addressed  Williams,  entreating  his  interest 
with  the  queen  on  behalf  of  those  poor  men  dispossessed  of 
their  leases  by  Bonner,  respecting  whose  hard  case  he  had 
drawn  up  a  petition,  and  referred  him  to  his  brother.  Ship- 
side,  whom  he  pointed  out,  as  having  the  paper  in  his  care, 
ending  with  these  words,  "  I  beseech  you,  my  lord,  be  a 
mean  for  them :  you  shall  do  a  good  deed,  and  God  will 
reward  you."  A  lighted  fagot  was  then  brought,  and  laid 
down  at  his  feet,  on  which  Latimer  turned  and  addressed 
him  in  those  memorable,  and  we  humbly  hope,  prophetic 
words, "  Be  of  good  comfort,  Mr.  Ridley,  and  play  the  man : 

WE    SHALL    THIS    DAY    LIGHT    SUCH    A  CANDLE,    BY    God's 

GRACE,  IN  England,  as,  I  trust,  shall  never  be  put 

OUT." 

The  flames  rose ;  and  Ridley  in  a  wonderfully  loud  voice 
exclaimed  in  Latin,  "  Into  thy  hands,  O  Lord,  I  commend 
my  spirit,"  often  repeating  in  English,  "  Lord,  receive  my 
spirit !"  Latimer  on  the  other  side  as  vehemently  crying 
out,  "  O  Father  of  heaven,  receive  my  soul !"  and  welcom- 
ing, as  it  were,  the  flame,  he  embraced  it,  bathed  his  hands 
in  it,  stroked  his  venerable  face  with  them,  and  soon  died, 
seemingly  with  little  pain,  or  none.  So  ended  this  old  and 
blessed  servant  of  God  his  laborious  works,  and  fruitful  life, 
by  an  easy  and  quiet  death  in  the  midst  of  the  fire,  into 
which  he  cheerfully  entered  lor  Christ's  sake. 

But  it  pleased  the  Lord  to  glorify  himself  otherwise  in 

Ridley:  his  torments  were  terrible,  and  protracted  to  an 

extent  that  it  sickens  the  heart  to  contemplate.     The  fire 

had  been  made  so  ill,  by  heaping  a  great  quantity  of  heavy 

5* 


54  BISHOP    RIDLEY. 

fagots  very  high  about  him,  above  the  hghter  combustibles, 
that  the  soUd  wood  kept  down  the  flame,  causing  it  to  rage 
intensely  beneath,  without  ascending.  The  martyr  finding 
his  lower  extremities  only  burning,  requested  those  about 
him,  for  Christ's  sake,  to  let  the  fire  come  to  him;  which 
his  poor  brother  Shipside  hearing,  and  in  the  anguish  of  his 
spirit  not  rightly  understanding,  he  heaped  more  fagots  on 
the  pile,  hoping  so  to  hasten  the  conflagration,  which  of 
course,  was  further  repressed  by  it,  and  became  more  vehe- 
ment beneath,  burning  to  a  cinder  all  the  nether  parts  of 
the  sufferer,  without  approaching  the  vitals.  In  this  horri- 
ble state,  he  continued  to  leap  up  and  down  under  the 
wood,  praying  them  to  let  the  fire  come,  and  repeatedly 
exclaiming,  "  I  cannot  burn,"  writhing  in  the  torture,  as 
he  turned  from  side  to  side,  the  bystanders  saw  even  his 
shirt  unconsumed,  clean,  and  unscorched  by  the  flame, 
while  his  legs  were  totally  burnt  off.  In  such  extremity 
his  heart  was  still  fixed  trusting  in  his  God,  and  ejacula- 
ting frequently,  "  Lord,  have  mercy  upon  me  !"  interming- 
ling it  with  entreaties,  "  Let  the  fire  come  unto  me — I  can- 
not burn."  At  last  one  of  the  bill-men  with  his  weapon 
mercifully  pulled  away  the  fagots  from  above,  so  giving  the 
flame  power  to  rise;  which  the  sufferer  no  sooner  saw, 
than  with  an  eager  effort  he  wrenched  his  mutilated  body 
to  that  side,  to  meet  the  welcome  deliverance.  The  flame 
now  touched  the  gunpowder,  and  he  was  seen  to  stir  no 
more;  but  afier  burning  awhile  on  the  other  side,  and,  as 
some  reported,  requesting  the  guards  to  hold  his  body  to 
the  stake  with  their  bills,  he  fell  over  the  chain  at  the  feet 
of  Latimer's  corpse. 

It  was  a  sight  that  moved  hundreds  to  tears  and  lamen- 
tations, even  among  those  who  considered  him  as  an  evil 
doer :  the  agony  of  his  affectionate  brother  may  well  be 
conceived,  who  innocently  increased  and  lengthened  his 
torments,  while  seeking  to  terminate  them.  Fox  dwells 
upon  the  scene  with  a  touching  lament.  Whoso  consider- 
ed their  preferment  in  times  past,  the  places  of  honour  that 
they  sometime  occupied  in  this  commonwealth,  the  favour 
they  were  in  with  their  princes,  and  the  opinion  of  learning 
they  had,  could  not  choose  but  sorrow  with  tears,  to  see  so 
great  dignity,  honour,  and  estimation,  so  necessary  mem- 
bers sometime  accounted,  so  many  godly  virtues,  the  study 
of  so  many  years,  such  excellent  learning,  to  be  put  into 
the  fire  and  consumed  in  one  moment.     Well,  dead  they 


BIDLEY    AND    LATIMER.  55 

are,  and  the  reward  of  this  world  they  have  already.  What 
reward  remaineth  for  them  in  heaven,  the  day  of  the  Lord's 
glory,  when  he  cometh  with  his  saints,  shall  shortly,  I  trust, 
declare. 

And,  indeed,  it  is  only  by  turning  to  that  sure  promise 
of  the  Lord's  righteous  judgment  that  the  heart  can  be  re- 
strained from  uttering  the  language  of  burning  indignation 
against  those  savage  murderers,  who  have  long  since  gone 
to  their  awful  account:  it  cannot,  nor  ought  it  to  be  kept 
from  beholding  with  horror  the  nature  of  the  Antichristian 
mystery  of  iniquity,  manifested  in  these  its  deadly  fruits. 
The  very  uttermost  that  could  be  alleged  against  the  two 
good  bishops,  was  a  dissent  from  the  church  of  Rome,  up- 
held by  an  appeal  to  the  written  word  of  God :  and  for  this 
they  were  doomed  to  suffer  all  that  the  unrestrained  bar- 
barity of  man  could  inflict  upon  his  fellow,  even  to  a  most 
agonizing  death.  Woe  unto  us,  if,  with  these  examples  before 
us,  we  shrink  not  from  touching  even  the  outermost  fringe 
of  that  harlot's  polluted  garments!  There  is  that  mingled 
with  the  dust  of  Oxford  which  will  rise  up  in  the  judgment, 
a  terrible  witness  against  those  who,  while  trampling  on  the 
ashes  of  the  martyrs,  shall  dare  to  suggest  any,  even  the 
slightest  measure  of  approximation  to  the  apostate  church 
— any  recognition  of  her,  otherwise  than  as  the  deeply  ac- 
cursed enemy  of  Christ  and  his  saints. 

It  is  remarkable  that  the  venerable  Latimer,  whose  fer- 
vency in  prayer  was  such  that  he  often  continued  kneeling 
until  he  was  unable  to  rise  without  assistance,  had  particu- 
larly dwelt  on  three  things,  concerning  which  he  made  con- 
stant supplication  to  God  during  his  imprisonment.  The 
feebleness  of  age,  added  to  his  bodily  ailments,  disabled  him 
from  using  his  pen  so  much  as  his  brothers  in  tribulation 
did:  but  this  seemed  to  add  to  the  urgency  and  perse- 
verance of  his  prayers.  The  three  requests  on  which  he 
chiefly  insisted  were  these.  First,  that  as  God  had  appoint- 
ed him  to  be  a  preacher  of  his  word,  so  also  he  would  give 
him  grace  to  stand  to  his  doctrine  until  his  death,  that  he 
might  shed  his  heart's  blood  for  the  same.  Secondly,  that 
God  of  his  mercy  would  restore  his  gospel  to  England  once 
again ;  and  these  words,  once  again,  once  again,  he  did  so 
inculcate  and  beat  into  the  ear  of  the  Lord  God,  as  though 
he  had  seen  God  before  him,  and  spoken  to  him  face  to 
face.  Thirdly,  he  prayed  for  the  preservation  of  the  prin- 
cess Elizabeth,  whom  he  was  accustomed  to  name,  and  even 


56  WrNCHESTER's    DEATH. 

with  tears  to  desire  God  to  make  her  a  comfort  to  this  com- 
fortless realm  of  England.  These  were  his  chief  petitions; 
and  that  they  were  all  graciously  heard  and  granted  is 
apparent.  With  regard  to  the  first  he  gave  proof  of  the 
grace  received,  in  his  patience  and  constancy  when  standing 
at  the  stake,  just  before  the  tormentors  applied  the  fire,  by 
repeating  with  a  sweet  and  placid  countenance,  his  eyes 
being  raised  joyfully  to  heaven,  "  God  is  faithful  who  doth 
not  suffer  us  to  be  tempted  above  our  strength;"  and  his 
heart's  blood  was  literally  shed,  in  a  somewhat  extraordi- 
nary manner ;  for,  his  body  being  forced  open  by  the  vio- 
lence of  the  fire,  his  heart  was  exposed;  and  in  the  sight 
of  all  the  people  such  a  profusion  of  blood  burst  from  the 
heart,  as  excited  the  astonishment  of  those  who  saw  it.  The 
other  two  petitions  were  granted  together:  Elizabeth  was 
preserved,  amid  all  the  snares  and  perils  that  constantly  sur- 
rounded her  steps,  to  become  the  means  of  restoring  the 
gospel  to  England,  of  comforting  the  afflicted  people  of  God, 
and  of  establishing  the  realm  in  a  state  of  security  and  pros- 
perity beyond  what  it  had  ever  before  enjoyed. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Winchester's  death. — martyrs. — john  philpot. 

The  measure  of  Stephen  Gardiner's  iniquities  was  now 
full:  God  would  no  longer  suffer  him  upon  earth,  and  the 
manner  of  his  death  was  calculated  to  imprint  a  lesson  on 
the  consciences  of  his  brother  persecutors,  had  they  not 
been  seared  with  a  hot  iron.  This  wretched  man,  hav- 
ing succeeded  to  the  utmost  of  his  hopes  and  desires,  in 
seeing  the  light  of  the  gospel  quenched  throughout  Eng- 
land, and  the  chief  authority  for  tormenting  the  Lord's  peo- 
ple vested  in  his  own  hands,  had  fully  set  his  heart  on  ac- 
complishing the  murder  of  Latimer  and  Ridley.  The  day 
being  fixed  for  their  execution,  he  was  so  anxious  to  be  as- 
sured of  their  death,  that  although  the  duke  of  Norfolk 
was  at  his  house,  waiting  for  dinner,  he  refused  to  have  it 
served  up  until  he  should  be  satisfied  that  the  two  bishops 
were  slain.     It  was  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  several 


ROPER WEBB PARKE.  57 

hours  beyond  the  regular  meal-time,  when  his  servant  ar- 
rived, having  ridden  post  from  Oxford  with  the  desired  in- 
formation ;  of  whom  Winchester  having  carefully  inquired, 
and  being  certified  that  fire  was  set  to  them,  he  came  re- 
joicingly to  the  duke,  saying,  "  Now  let  us  go  to  dinner." 
They  sat  down,  and  Winchester  began  merrily  to  regale 
himself:  but  "  while  the  meat  was  yet  in  his  mouth  the 
wrath  of  God  came  upon  him,"  and  so  smote  him,  that  he 
was  carried  from  the  table  to  his  bed,  where  for  the  space 
of  fifteen  days,  he  continned  suffering  intolerable  anguish 
from  an  internal  obstruction  that  could  by  no  means  be 
overcome,  and  which  occasioned  the  most  burning  inflam- 
mation, insomuch  that  his  tongue,  which  in  his  torment  was 
continually  thrust  out,  appeared  swollen,  and  black  as  a 
coal.  In  this  plight,  he  was  visited  by  Day,  bishop  of  Chi- 
chester, who  sought  to  console  him  with  the  word  of  pro- 
mise, repeating  to  him  some  scriptures  that  set  forth  the 
sinner's  justification  through  faith  in  Christ's  blood.  Even 
the  extremity  to  which  he  was  reduced  could  not  throw  this 
vigilant  hinderer  of  God's  word  off  his  ground :  he  saw  the 
danger  that  menaced  the  power  of  Rome,  if  such  truths 
were  proclaimed,  and  said,  "  What !  my  lord,  will  you  open 
that  gap  now?  then  farewell  altogether.  To  me,  and  such 
other  in  my  case,  you  may  speak  it ;  but  open  this  window 
to  the  people,  then  farewell  altogether."  Thus  perished 
Stephen  Gardiner ;  and  to  God's  judgment  we  leave  him. 

John  Roper,  George  Webb,  and  Gregory  Parke, 
gentlemen,  were  the  next  to  follow  in  the  steps  of  Ridley 
and  Latimer.  They  were  tried  before  Harpsfield  and  the 
bishop  of  Dover,  and,  for  maintaining  the  scriptural  doc- 
trine of  the  sacrament,  were  adjudged  heretics,  and  con- 
demned to  the  fire  in  Canterbury.  They  went  to  the  stake 
singing  psalms;  Roper,  a  young  and  sprightly  person,  on 
coming  to  the  stake  put  off  his  gown  and  leaped  for  joy; 
then,  when  fire  was  set,  he  spread  out  his  arms  in  the  form 
of  a  cross,  and  never  moved  until  they  were  so  burned  as 
to  drop  from  his  body.  They  all  died  counting  themselves 
happy  and  blessed  of  the  Lord  that  they  were  permitted  to 
suffer  for  Christ's  sake  and  the  gospel.  William  Wiseman, 
a  clothworker  of  London,  died  in  the  Lollards'  tower,  as  it 
was  supposed  by  violent  means.  Having  been  imprisoned 
for  heresy,  his  dead  body  was  cast  out  naked  into  the 
fields,  to  be  torn  by  dogs  and  birds;  but  some  poor  believers 
ventured  in  the  night  to  dig  a  grave  and  bury  him,  the 


58  GORE PHILPOT. 

archers  or  bowmen  standing  by,  and  singing  psalms  over 
the  spot,  as  they  often  did  on  similar  occasions.  James 
Gore  also  died  in  prison,  at  Colchester,  for  the  truth  of 
God's  word. 

Next  in  order  comes  one  of  the  most  renowned  and  pow- 
erful champions  of  the  faith  that  the  antichristian  church 
had  to  contend  with  in  Mary's  days.  This  was  John  Phil- 
pot,  archdeacon  of  Winchester,  who  has  already  appeared 
in  the  history,  as  withstanding  the  introduction  of  false 
doctrine  on  the  queen's  accession,  when  disputing  in  the 
convocation-house.  He  was  the  son  of  an  honourable 
house;  his  father  being  a  knight  of  Hampshire,  and  stu- 
died at  Oxford  with  distinguished  success,  being  a  great 
proficient  in  the  Hebrew  and  other  tongues,  no  less  than  in 
the  liberal  arts.  He  was  of  a  ready  wit,  singular  courage, 
fervent  in  spirit,  and  in  religion  most  zealous :  a  well-prac- 
tised divine,  by  nature  plain  and  honest ;  far  from  all  flat- 
tery, farther  still  from  hypocrisy  and  dissimulation:  and 
how  deeply  learned,  his  enemies  could  well  testify,  who 
never  in  argument  gained  an  advantage  over  him. 

On  leaving  Oxford,  Mr.  Philpot,  desirous  of  seeing  other 
countries,  travelled  on  the  continent:  at  Padua  he  was  in 
some  danger  from  a  Franciscan  friar,  who  having  con- 
versed with  him  on  the  journey,  threatened  to  accuse  him 
of  heresy.  He  returned  to  England,  and  becoming  bolder 
as  the  prosperous  times  of  king  Edward  gave  him  more 
liberty,  he  held  various  disputations  with  Stephen  Gardi- 
ner, whose  successor.  Dr.  Poiret,  appointed  him  to  the 
archdeaconry  of  that  see,  where,  during  the  rest  of  Ed- 
ward's reign,  he  continued  greatly  to  profit  and  instruct 
the  people.  When  that  blessed  king  was  taken  away, 
Mary's  first  step,  on  ascending  the  throne,  was,  as  we  have 
seen,  to  forward  her  plan  of  destroying  true  religion  through- 
out the  realm,  by  assembling  a  convocation  of  prelates  and 
learned  men.  Perfect  freedom  of  speech  was  granted,  with 
a  promise  of  imm.unity,  but  only,  as  it  afterwards  appeared, 
to  ascertain  who  were  likely  to  prove  the  most  able  cham- 
pions of  the  faith,  in  order  to  put  them  forthwith  out  of  the 
way,  by  imprisonment  and  death.  They  found,  in  arch- 
deacon Philpot,  an  unanswerable  opponent:  he,  of  course, 
was  immediately  charged  with  heresy,  and,  on  the  unal- 
terable principle  of  popery,  that  neither  promises  nor  oaths 
are  binding  when  pledged  to  those  out  of  her  communion, 
the  liberty  officially  given  was  set  at  nought,  and  he  was 


PHILPOT.  59 

committed  to  prison  for  having  dared  to  give,  when  called 
on  by  authority,  a  reason  for  the  hope  that  vi'as  in  him. 

The  examinations  to  which  he  was  brought,  all  penned 
by  himself,  were  so  numerous  and  so  long,  that  to  give 
them  entire  is  impossible,  and  to  abridge  them  is  to  lose  a 
great  deal  of  valuable  matter.  Philpot  was  a  man  of  most 
unconquerable  spirit,  shrewd,  ready-witted,  and  so  com- 
pletely master  of  the  controversy,  that  it  is  probable  ihey 
never  had  so  troublesome  a  subject  to  deal  with.  His  first 
examination  took  place  at  Newgate,  on  the  2d  October, 
1555,  before  the  queen's  commissioners,  with  the  infamous 
Dr.  Story  at  their  head.  This  man,  before  Philpot  was 
called  into  their  parlour,  came  out  into  the  hall  to  view 
him,  where  he  stood  among  other  victims,  and  staring  at 
him,  insolently  remarked  that  he  was  fat  indeed ;  to  which 
the  archdeacon  replied,  "  If  I  be  fat,  and  in  good  liking, 
Mr.  Doctor,  it  is  no  marvel,  since  I  have  been  stalled 
up  in  prison  this  twelve  months  and  a  half,  in  a  close  cor- 
ner." He  then  demanded  the  cause  of  his  imprisonment, 
and  was  told  that  his  suspected  heresy  was  the  cause; 
which  Story  desired  him  to  revoke,  adding  threats,  if  he 
continued  obstinate.  Being  then  brought  into  the  inner 
room,  he  was  taxed  with  being  out  of  the  catholic  church, 
and  a  disturber  of  the  same.  To  this  he  pleaded  the  liberty 
of  speech  granted  in  the  convocation-house,  represented  his 
long  and  unjust  confinement,  and  demanded  the  privileges 
of  an  English  subject,  to  be  openly  charged  if  he  had  trans- 
gressed any  law  of  the  realm,  fairly  tried,  and  either  con- 
demned or  acquitted.  Roper  maintained  the  right  of  any 
magistrate  to  commit  a  supposed  felon  on  suspicion,  and 
Story  taxed  him  with  the  crime  of  heresy,  which  he  de- 
nied. Story  asserted  that  he  had  spoken  against  the  mass  : 
Philpot  again  insisted  on  the  liberty  given  by  the  queen  and 
her  council,  for  every  man  openly  to  speak  his  mind  in  the 
convocation.  Story  told  him  he  should  go  to  Lollards' 
tower,  to  be  handled  like  a  heretic;  to  answer  to  all  that  he 
spoke  in  convocation,  and  to  be  judged  by  Bonner.  Phil- 
pot refused  any  authority  but  that  of  his  own  ordinary,  the 
bishop  of  Winchester,  saying  that  if  he  chose  to  take  his 
life  away,  as  he  had  done  his  liberty  and  living,  he  might. 
To  this  Story  replied,  that  the  convocation-house,  "  in 
which  he  had  spoken  words  against  the  blessed  mass,"  was 
in  the  bishop  of  London's  diocese;  therefore  he  should  be 
judged  by  him.     He  still   protested,  but   received  only 


60  PHILPOT. 

taunts,  except  from  one,  who  besought  him  to  turn,  and  save 
his  life.  After  a  mild  reply,  Philpot  addressed  Story: 
"  And  you,  master  doctor,  of  old  acquaintance  in  Oxford, 
I  trust  will  show  me  some  friendship,  and  not  extremity." 
"  I  tell  thee,"  said  Story,  "  if  thou  wouldst  be  a  good  ca- 
tholic man,  I  would  be  thy  friend,  and  spend  my  gown  to 
do  thee  good;  but  I  will  be  no  friend  to  a  heretic,  as  thou 
art,  but  will  spend  both  my  gown  and  my  coat  but  I  will 
burn  thee.  How  sayest  thou  to  the  sacrament  of  the  altar?" 
Philpot  declined  entering  on  the  subject  just  then,  as  he 
came  not  there  to  dispute  with  him,  but  to  answer  to  any 
charge  lawfully  laid  against  him.  Story  repeated  that  he 
should  go  to  Lollards'  tower ;  and  he  then  desired  to  see  their 
commission,  before  he  submitted  to  their  authority.  Roper 
was  willing  to  show  it;  but  Story  cried,  "Shall  we  let 
every  vile  person  see  our  commission?"  Cholmley  would 
have  remanded  him  to  the  place  whence  he  came,  till  they 
could  show  him  their  authority;  but  Story  savagely  said, 
"  No,  let  him  lie  in  the  meanwhile  in  the  Lollards'  tower; 
for  I  will  sweep  the  King's  bench,  and  all  other  prisons 
also  of  these  heretics ;  they  shall  not  have  that  resort  as 
they  have  had,  to  scatter  their  heresies." 

Philpot  replied,  "  You  have  power  to  transfer  my  body 
from  place  to  place  at  your  pleasure ;  but  you  have  no 
power  over  my  soul.  And  I  pass  not  whither  you  commit 
me,  for  I  cannot  be  worse  entreated  than  I  am,  kept  all 
day  in  a  close  chamber:  wherefore  it  is  no  marvel  that  my 
flesh  is  puffed  up,  whereat  master  doctor  is  offended." 

It  was  finally  arranged  that  he  should  be  taken  back  by 
the  marshal,  to  be  brought  up  again  on  the  Thursday  after; 
and  after  some  more  persuasions  from  the  others,  and  rail- 
ing from  Story,  he  was  led  away. 

It  was,  however,  three  weeks  before  they  again  sent  for 
Philpot;  to  whom,  as  he  was  going,  an  acquaintance  dwell- 
ing in  Aldgate  said,  "  God  have  mercy  on  you,  for  you  are 
already  condemned  in  this  world;  for  Dr.  Story  said  that 
my  lord  chancellor  had  commanded  to  do  you  away."  So 
completely  did  the  lives  of  the  protestanls  hang  upon  the 
malicious  caprice  of  a  single  popish  prelate!  When  brought 
to  the  commissioners,  he  was  assailed  by  Cholmley  with 
the  promise  of  great  favour  and  reputation  if  he  would  re- 
cant, to  which  he  shortly  replied,  "  I  shall  do,  as  it  be- 
cometh  a  Christian  man  to  do."  Story  then  broke  forth, 
"  This  man  is  the  rankest  heretic  that  hath  been  in  all  my 


PHILPOT.  61 

lord  chancellor's  diocese,  and  hath  done  more  hurt  than  any 
man  else  there:  and  therefore  his  pleasure  is  that  he  should 
have  the  law  to  proceed  against  him ;  and  I  have  spoken 
to  my  lord  herein,  and  he  willeth  him  to  be  committed  to 
the  bishop  of  London,  and  there  to  recant  or  else  burn. 
He  howled  and  wept  in  the  convocation-house,  and  made 
such  ado  as  never  man  did ;  as  all  the  heretics  do,  when 
they  lack  learning  to  answer.  He  shall  go  after  his  fel- 
lows. How  sayest  thou,  wilt  thou  recant?"  To  this  rail- 
ing speech  Philpot  quietly  answered,  "  I  know  nothing  that 
I  have  done  that  I  ought  to  recant."  "  Well  then,"  said 
Story,  "  I  pray  you  let  us  commit  him  to  the  Lollards' 
tower,  there  to  remain  until  he  be  further  examined  before 
the  bishop  of  London;  for  he  is  too  fine  fed  in  the  King's 
bench,  and  he  halh  too  much  favour  there:  for  his  keeper 
said  at  the  door  yesterday  that  he  was  the  finest  fellow, 
and  one  of  the  best  learned  in  England,"  And  after  bear- 
ing this  singular  testimony  to  the  prisoner's  character,  Story 
departed. 

The  commissioners  then  proceeded  in  the  usual  way, 
taunting,  reviling,  and  harassing  him ;  setting  at  nought  his 
protestation  at  being  called  to  account  for  what  he  had 
spoken  under  the  queen's  licence,  and  asking  if  the  queen 
gave  him  leave  to  be  a  heretic.  They  denied  his  right  to 
be  considered  an  archdeacon,  saying  that  a  notorious  here- 
tic needed  not  the  formality  of  a  deprivation  to  displace 
him  :  they  refused  to  show  him  their  commission,  although 
Roper  wished  to  do  so ;  and  ordered  him  away  to  the  Lol- 
lards' tower.  The  close  of  the  scene  may  serve  as  a  spe- 
cimen of  all  that  passed.  On  being  told  by  Dr,  Cook,  that 
he  should  go  to  that  noisome  cage,  he  said,  "  Sir,  I  am  a 
poor  gentleman;  therefore  I  trust  of  your  gentleness  you 
will  not  commit  me  to  so  vile  and  strait  a  place,  being 
found  no  heinous  trespasser."  "  Thou  art  no  gentleman," 
said  Cook.  "  Yes,  that  I  am."  "  A  heretic  is  no  gentle- 
man," proceeded  the  doctor,  "  for  he  is  a  gentleman  that 
hath  gentle  conditions."  Philpot  answered,  "  The  offence 
cannot  take  away  the  state  of  a  gentleman  as  long  as  he 
liveth,  although  he  were  a  traitor :  but  I  mean  not  to  boast 
of  my  genllemanship,  but  will  put  it  under  my  feet,  since 
you  do  no  more  esteem  it,"  Story,  who  had  returned,  here 
exclaimed,  "  What,  will  you  suffer  this  heretic  to  prate  with 
you  all  this  day?"  Cook  observed,  "  He  saith  he  is  a  gen- 
tleman."    Story  replied,  "  A  gentleman,  quoth  he?  he  is  a 

MARTYROLOGY. VOL.  II,  6 


62  PHILPOT. 

vile  heretic  knave,  for  a  heretic  is  no  gentleman.  Let  the 
keeper  of  the  Lollards'  tower  come  in,  and  have  him  away." 
The  keeper  appearing,  he  added,  "  Take  this  man  with  you 
to  the  Lollards'  tower,  or  else  to  the  bishop's  coal-house." 
"  Sir,"  said  Philpot,  "  if  I  were  a  dog  you  could  not  appoint 
me  a  worse  and  more  vile  place:  but  I  must  be  content 
with  whatsoever  injury  you  do  offer  me.  God  give  you  a 
more  merciful  heart:  you  are  very  cruel  upon  one  that  hath 
never  offended  you."  He  then  appealed  to  Cholmley, 
whose  bearing  had  been  far  more  gentle  than  his  fellows ; 
and  he,  calling  him  aside,  privately  declared  that  he  under- 
stood neither  their  laws  nor  their  doings ;  and  wished  he 
could  do  him  good.  Philpot  then  said  to  them,  "  I  am  con- 
tent to  go  whither  you  will  have  me.  There  was  never  man 
more  cruelly  handled  than  I  am  at  your  hands,  that  with- 
out just  cause  known  should  thus  be  entreated."  "  Shall 
we  suffer  this  heretic,  thus  to  reprove  us?"  cried  Story: 
"  have  him  hence."  Philpot  replied,  "  God  forgive  you, 
and  give  you  more  merciful  hearts,  and  show  you  more 
mercy  in  the  time  of  need.  '  That  ye  do,  do  quickly.' " 
Story  at  this  exclaimed,  "  Do  ye  not  hear  how  he  maketh 
us  Judases?"  "That  is  after  your  own  understanding," 
said  Philpot,  and  was  led  away. 

Such  was  the  treatment  experienced  at  the  hands  of  men 
calling  themselves  Christian  divines,  and  just  judges,  by 
one  whose  rank,  by  birth,  education,  and  church  dignity, 
was  fully  on  a  par  with  the  best  of  them.  After  he,  with 
four  others,  had  supped  at  the  keeper's  house  in  Paternos- 
ter Row,  Philpot  was  called  up  stairs  by  a  servant  of  the 
archdeacon  of  London,  who  offered  him  a  bed  ;  for  which 
he  expressed  his  thanks,  but  said,  "  It  would  be  a  grief  to 
me  to  lie  well  one  night,  and  the  next  worse ;  wherefore  I 
will  begin  as  I  am  like  to  continue,  and  take  such  part  as 
my  fellows  do."  They  were  then  conducted  to  the  place 
called  the  bishop's  coal-house,  hard  by  which,  in  a  small  dark 
house,  was  exhibited  a  great  pair  of  stocks,  made  to  confine 
both  feet  and  hands,  as  a  specimen  of  what  they  might  fiir- 
ther  expect.  However,  Philpot  writes,  "thanks  be  to  God, 
we  have  not  played  of  those  organs  yet,  although  some 
before  us  have  tried  them ;  and  there  we  found  a  minister 
of  Essex,  a  married  priest,  a  man  of  godly  zeal,  with  one 
other  poor  man.  This  minister,  at  my  coming,  desired  to 
speak  with  me,  and  did  greatly  lament  his  own  infirmity, 
for  that  through  extremity  of  imprisonment  he  was  con- 


PHILPOT.  63 

strained  by  writing  to  yield  to  the  bishop  of  London  ;  where- 
upon he  was  once  set  at  liberty,  and  afterward  felt  such  a 
hell  in  his  conscience,  that  he  could  scarce  refrain  from 
destroying  himself;  and  never  could  be  at  quiet  until 
he  had  gone  unto  the  bishop's  register,  desiring  to  see  his 
bill  again  ;  the  which  as  soon  as  he  had  received,  he  tore 
it  to  pieces;  after  which  he  was  as  joyful  as  any  man  might 
be.  Of  the  which,  when  my  lord  of  London  had  under- 
standing, he  sent  for  him,  and  fell  upon  him  like  a  lion ; 
and  like  a  manly  bishop  buffeted  him  well,  so  that  he  made 
his  face  black  and  blue,  and  plucked  away  a  great  piece  of 
his  beard.  But  now,  thanks  be  to  God,  he  is  as  joyful 
under  the  cross  as  any  of  us,  and  very  sorry  of  his  former 
infirmity.  I  write  this,  because  I  would  all  men  to  take 
heed  how  they  do  contrary  to  their  conscience  ;  which  is  to 
fall  into  the  pains  of  hell." 

On  the  second  evening,  Bonner,  who  saw  the  importance 
of  gaining  over  such  a  man  as  the  archdeacon,  sent  him  a 
mess  of  meat,  and  a  pot  of  drink,  for  himself  and  his  com- 
panions, protesting  that  he  had  no  knowledge  of  Mr.  Phil- 
pot  being  kept  there,  and  was  very  sorry  for  it.    This  relief 
he  received  very  gratefully,  giving  God  thanks  for  having 
disposed  the  bishop  to  show  such  charity  to  poor  prisoners, 
and  took  it  immediately  to  his  fellow  captives  :  as  he  says, 
"  praising  God  for  his  providence  toward  his  afflicted  flock, 
that  he  stirred  their  adversaries  up  to  help  the  same  in  their 
necessity."    The  bishop's  man  then  asked  the  cause  of  his 
confinement,  saying  that  his  lord  wondered  why  he  should 
be  troubled  with  prisoners  of  other  dioceses  than  his  own. 
Philpot  showed  him  the  matter;  and  soon  after  the  messen- 
ger's departure,  he  was  summoned  to  the  bishop's  presence, 
who  received  him  with  every  appearance  of  courtesy  and 
commiseration,  saying  he  had  only  heard  within  two  hours 
of  his  being  there.     "  I  pray  you,"  added  the  bishopj  "  tell 
me  what  was  the  cause  of  your  sending  hither ;  for  I  pro- 
mise you,  I  know  nothing  thereof  as  yet,  neither  would  you 
should  think  that  I  was  the  cause  thereof;  and  I  marvel 
that  other  men  will  trouble  me  with  their  matters ;  but  I 
must  be  obedient   to   my  betters ;  and  I  fear  men  speak 
otherwise  of  me  than  I  deserve."     This  was  a  fair  speci- 
men of  the  dragon's  bleat,  when  it  served  his  purpose  to 
speak  as  a  Iamb.    Throughout  the  interview,  Bonner  main- 
tained the  same  appearance  of  simplicity,  candour,  and 
good-will ;  most  cunningly  seeking  thereby  to  draw  from 


64  PHILPOT. 

Philpot  some  confirmation  of  what  he  had  spoken  in  the 
discussion,  or  an  admission  that  he  had  since  maintained 
the  same  doctrines:  but  the  prisoner,  though  returning  his 
civility  with  all  possible  gentleness,  was  too  wary  to  be  so 
entrapped.  Thus  baffled,  the  bishop  turned  to  another  topic, 
which  is  thus  related  by  Philpot.  "  I  marvel,"  said  he, 
"  that  you  are  so  merry  in  prison  as  ye  be,  singing  and 
rejoicing,  as  the  prophet  saith,  rejoicing  in  your  naughti- 
ness. Me  thinketh  you  do  not  well  herein  ;  you  should 
rather  lament  and  be  sorry."  "  My  lord,  the  mirth  that  we 
make  is  but  in  singing  certain  psalms,  according  as  we  are 
commanded  by  St,  Paul,  willing  us  to  be  merry  in  the  Lord, 
singing  together  in  hymns  and  psalms ;  and  I  trust  your 
lordship  cannot  be  displeased  with  that."  Bonner  answer- 
ed, "  We  may  say  unto  you,  as  Christ  said  in  the  gospel, 
'  Tibiis  cecinimus  vobis,  et  non  planxistis ;"  but  here,  says 
he,  my  lord  stumbled,  and  could  not  bring  forth  the  text, 
and  required  his  chaplains  to  help,  and  to  put  him  in  remem- 
brance of  the  text  better ;  but  they  were  mum  :  and  I  reci- 
ted out  the  text  unto  him,  which  made  nothing  to  his  pur- 
pose, unless  he  would  have  us  to  mourn,  because  they,  if 
they  laugh,  sing  full  sorrowful  things  unto  us,  threatening 
fagots  and  fire.  "  We  are,  my  lord,  in  a  dark,  comfortless 
place,  and  therefore  it  behoveth  us  to  be  merry,  lest,  as 
Solomon  says,  sorrowfulness  eat  up  our  heart.  Therefore 
I  trust  your  lordship  will  not  be  angry  for  our  singing  of 
psalms,  since  St.  Paul  saith,  '  If  any  man  be  of  an  upright 
mind,  let  him  sing.'  And  we  therefore,  to  testify  that  we 
are  of  an  upright  mind  to  God,  though  we  be  in  misery,  do 
sing."  The  bishop  had  no  answer  to  give  ;  so  he  repeated 
his  fair  words,  and  bidding  him  good  night,  ordered  that  he 
should  go  to  the  cellar  and  drink  a  cup  of  wine.  One  of 
the  chaplains  used  this  interval  to  persuade  him  to  recant ; 
but  Philpot,  having  taken  the  wine,  returned  to  the  coal- 
house,  "  where,"  he  writes,  "  I  with  my  six  fellows,  do 
rouse  together  in  straw,  as  cheerfully,  we  thank  God,  as 
others  do  in  their  beds  of  down." 

Not  long  after,  the  bishops  of  London,  Bath,  Worcester, 
and  Gloucester  dining  together  at  the  house  of  the  arch- 
deacon of  London,  they  sent  for  Philpot,  and  desired  to  talk 
with  him.  Bonner  expounded  the  cause  of  their  summon- 
ing him,  Bath  declared  they  meant  to  bring  him  back  to 
the  church,  and  Worcester  said,  *'  Before  he  beginneth  to 
speak,  it  is  best  that  he  call  upon  God  for  grace,  and  to 


PHILPOT,  65 

pray  that  it  might  please  God  to  open  his  heart,  that  ho 
may  receive  the  truth."  Philpot,  on  hearing  this,  directly 
fell  on  his  knees,  praying  aloud  in  these  words,  "Almighty 
God,  which  art  the  giver  of  all  wisdom  and  understanding, 
I  beseech  thee  of  thine  infinite  goodness  and  mercy  in  Jesus 
Christ,  to  give  me,  most  vile  sinner  in  thy  sight,  the  spirit 
of  wisdom  to  speak  and  make  answer  in  thy  cause,  that  it 
may  be  to  the  contentation  of  the  hearers  before  whom  I 
stand,  and  also  to  my  better  understanding,  if  1  be  deceived 
in  any  thing." 

Bonner  said,  "Nay,  my  lord  of  Worcester,  you  did  not 
well  to  exhort  him  to  make  any  prayer.  For  this  is  the 
thing  they  have  a  singular  pride  in,  that  they  can  often 
make  their  vain  prayers,  in  the  which  they  glory  much. 
For  in  this  point  they  are  very  much  like  unto  certain 
arrant  heretics,  of  whom  Pliny  maketh  mention,  that  did 
daily  sing  praise  unto  God  before  dawning  of  the  day." 
"  My  lord,"  said  Philpot,  "  God  make  me  and  all  you  here 
present  such  heretics  as  those  were  that  sung  those  morn- 
ing hymns:  for  they  were  right  Christians,  with  whom  the 
tyrants  of  the  world  were  offended  for  their  well  doing." 
"  Proceed  to  that  he  hath  to  say,"  said  the  bishop  of  Bath : 
"  he  hath  prayed  I  cannot  tell  for  what."  • 

They  then  questioned  him,  with  the  usual  view  to  engage 
him  in  some  declaration  on  which  to  build  a  charge ;  but 
Philpot  remained  firm  in  rejecting  the  jurisdiction  of  Bonner, 
and  demanding  to  be  sent  to  his  own  ordinary.  As  with 
Bradford,  however,  they  at  last  prevailed,  insinuating  that 
he  had  no  just  ground  for  differing  from  them,  and  attri- 
buting  to  obstinacy  and  self-will  his  singularity  of  opinion, 
to  lead  him  into  a  discussion  on  the  assumed  authority  of 
the  Romish  church.  Cole  offered  to  prove  from  Athana- 
sius  that  in  his  time  a  universal  council  decreed  that  Rome 
was  in  all  things  to  be  followed  throughout  the  Christian 
world:  Philpot,  after  protesting  against  any  other  authority 
than  that  of  the  Scriptures,  called  them  to  the  proof;  being 
assured  that  no  such  decree  had  then  passed.  The  book 
was  brought,  and  after  a  long  search,  wherein  Harpsfield 
helped  the  perplexed  bishops  to  very  little  purpose,  they  hit 
upon  a  passage  and  handed  the  volume  to  Philpot,  who 
found  that  it  had  no  such  bearing  as  they  pretended.  This 
he  showed ;  whereupon  Bonner  exclaimed,  "  So  will  you 
say  still,  it  maketh  nothing  for  the  purpose,  whatsoever 
authority  we  bring ;  and  will  never  be  satisfied."  "  My 
6* 


66  PHILPOT. 

lord,"  said  Philpot,  "  when  I  do  by  just  reason  prove  that 
the  authorities  which  be  brought  against  me  do  not  make  to 
the  purpose,  as  I  have  already  proved,  I  trust  you  will 
receive  mine  answer."  Worcester  then  asserted,  "  It  is  to 
be  proved  most  manifestly  by  all  ancient  writers,  that  the 
see  of  Rome  hath  always  followed  the  truth,  and  never  was 
deceived,  until  of  late  certain  heretics  defaced  the  same." 
"  Let  that  be  proved,"  said  Philpot,  "  and  I  have  done." 
*'  Nay,"  returned  the  other,  "  you  are  of  such  arrogancy, 
singularity,  and  vain-glory,  that  you  will  not  see  it,  be  it 
never  so  well  proved."  This  drew  from  the  martyr  a  well 
deserved  rebuke,  "Ah!  my  lords,  is  it  now  time,  think  you, 
for  me  to  follow  singularity  and  vain-glory,  since  it  is  now 
upon  danger  of  my  life  and  death,  not  only  presently,  but 
also  before  God  to  come?  And  I  know  if  I  die  not  in  the 
true  faith,  I  shall  die  everlastingly:  and  again  I  know,  if  I 
do  not  as  you  would  have  me,  you  will  kill  me,  and  many 
thousand  more:  and  yet  I  had  rather  perish  at  your  hands 
than  to  perish  eternally.  And  at  this  time  I  have  lost  all 
my  commodities  of  this  world,  and  lie  in  a  coal-house,  where 
a  man  would  not  lay  a  dog;  with  the  which  I  am  well 
contented." 

The  argument',  if  such  it  could  be  called,  when  on  one 
side  nothing  was  advanced  but  assertion  wholly  devoid  of 
proof,  and  on  the  other  unanswerable  proofs,  thrust  aside 
by  the  opponents,  without  notice,  was  continued  at  great 
length;  until  Cole,  seeing  how  little  his  party  was  likely  to 
gain,  interposed,  saying,  "  My  lords,  why  do  you  trouble 
yourselves  to  answer  him  in  this  matter?  It  is  not  the 
thing  which  is  laid  to  his  charge,  but  his  error  of  the  sacra- 
ment; and  he,  to  shift  himself  of  that,  brought  in  another 
matter."  When  Worcester  remarked,  "  It  is  wonder  to 
see  how  he  standeth  with  so  few  against  a  great  multi- 
tude," Philpot  retorted,  "  We  have  almost  as  many  as  you; 
for  we  have  Asia,  Africa,  Germany,  Denmark,  and  a  great 
part  of  France;  and  daily  the  number  of  the  gospel  doth 
increase:  so  that  I  am  credibly  informed  that  for  this  reli- 
gion in  the  which  I  stand,  and  for  the  which  I  am  like  to  die, 
a  great  multitude  doth  daily  come  out  of  France,  through 
persecution,  so  that  the  cities  of  Germany  be  scarce  able 
to  receive  them:  and  therefore  your  lordship  may  be  sure 
the  word  of  God  will  one  day  take  place,  do  what  you  can 
to  the  contrary!"  Worcester  jeeringly  replied, "  They  were 
well  occupied  to  bring  you  such  news ;  and  you  have  been 


PIIILPOT.  67 

well  kept  to  have  such  resort  unto  you.  Thou  art  the 
arrogantest  fellow,  and  stoutest  fond  fellow  that  ever  I 
knew."  Philpot  meekly  replied,  "  I  pray  your  lordship  to 
bear  with  my  hasty  speech :  for  it  is  part  of  my  corrupt 
nature  to  speak  somewhat  hastily:  but  for  all  that,  I  mean 
with  humility  to  do  my  duty  to  your  lordship.  This  led  to 
some  exchange  of  mild  language  between  the  bishops  and 
their  victim:  after  which  they  rose  up,  consulted  together, 
and  caused  a  writing  to  be  made,  wherein  he  had  reason  to 
believe  his  blood  was  bought  and  sold.  He  was  then  re- 
manded to  his  dungeon. 

The  fifth  examination  of  this  constant  man  was  conduct- 
ed in  Bonner's  palace,  by  himself,  the  bishops  of  Roches- 
ter, Coventry,  St.  Asaph,  and  another;  doctors  Story,  Cur- 
top,  Saverson,  Pendleton,  with  various  chaplains,  gentle- 
men of  the  queen's  chamber,  and  others.  Bonner  began 
by  saying  he  had  requested  them  to  take  some  pains  with 
Philpot,  as  he  was  to  sit  in  judgment  on  him  on  the  mor- 
row; at  which  information  the  prisoner  expressed  great 
gladness,  remarking  that  speedy  trial  had  before  been 
falsely  promised  him,  and  adding,  "  I  look  for  none  other 
but  death  at  your  hands;  and  I  am  as  ready  to  yield  my 
life  in  Christ's  cause  as  you  be  to  require  it."  Then  fol- 
lowed a  brisk  argument  on  the  subject  of  his  privilege  of 
speech  in  the  convocation-house;  one  trying  to  make  out 
that  dissent  from  popery  was  treason  against  the  queen; 
another  disputing  his  title  to  the  liberty  granted,  because 
"  he  had  not  spoken  under  reformation,  like  others,  but 
as  earnestly  and  persuasively  as  any  man  could  do." 
At  last  Rochester  asked  him  if  he  would  stand  to  what 
he  had  there  said,  and  if  he  thought  he  had  then  spoken 
well  or  no:  to  which  treacherous  question  Philpot  wisely 
answered,  "  My  lord,  you  are  not  mine  ordinary  to  pro- 
ceed ex-officio  against  me;  and  therefore  I  am  not  bound 
to  tell  you  my  conscience,  of  your  demands."  Then  they 
questioned  him  of  the  sacrament,  with  no  better  success; 
he  still  stood  on  the  point  of  law,  regarding  their  authority: 
until  Bonner  lost  all  patience,  gave  him  the  lie,  and  called 
him  the  veriest  beast  that  ever  he  heard;  to  which  he  an- 
swered, "Your  lordship  may  speak  j^our  pleasure  of  me: 
but  what  is  this  to  the  purpose  which  your  lordship  is  so 
earnest  in?"  Having  completely  foiled  them  on  the  point 
of  civil  and  ecclesiastical  law,  he  called  on  them  to  prove 
the  Romish  to  be  the  catholic  church.     The  bishop  of  St, 


68  PHILPOT. 

Asaph  declared  it  most  evident  that  Peter  built  the  catholic 
church  at  Rome;  that  Christ  had  said  to  Peter,  "  Thou  art 
Peter;  and  upon  this  rock  I  build  my  church;"  and  that 
as  the  succession  of  bishops  in  the  see  of  Rome  could  be 
proved  from  time  to  time,  as  it  could  of  no  other  place  so 
well,  therefore  the  Romish  church  was  the  catholic  church 
of  Christ.  Philpot  told  him  that  what  he  would  represent 
as  undoubted  was  most  uncertain :  what  Christ  said  to  Peter 
proving  nothing,  unless  he  would  have  the  rock  to  be  Rome; 
"  And  although,"  said  he,  "  you  can  prove  the  succession 
of  bishops  from  Peter,  yet  this  is  not  sufficient  to  prove 
Rome  the  catholic  church,  unless  you  can  prove  the  pro- 
fession of  Peter's  faith,  whereupon  the  catholic  church  is 
builded,  to  have  continued  in  his  successors  at  Rome,  and 
at  this  present  to  remain." 

Being  called  on  to  show,  if  he  could,  what  the  word  "cath- 
olic" signifies,  he  answered,  "  Yes,  that  I  can,  I  thank  God. 
The  catholic  faith,  or  the  catholic  church,  is  not,  as  now- 
a-days  the  people  be  taught,  to  be  that  which  is  most  uni- 
versal, or  of  most  part  of  men  received,  whereby  you  do 
infer  our  faith  to  hang  upon  the  multitude,  which  is  not  so: 
but  I  esteem  the  catholic  church  to  be  as  St.  Augustine  de- 
fineth  the  same.  "  We  judge  as  the  catholic  faith,  that 
which  hath  been,  is,  and  shall  be."  So  that  if  you  can  be 
able  to  prove  that  your  faith  and  church  hath  been  from 
the  beginning  taught,  and  is  and  shall  be,  then  you  may 
count  yourselves  catholic,  otherwise  not.  And  catholic 
is  a  Greek  word,  compounded  of  xari,  which  signifieth  after, 
or  according  to,  and  omv,  a  sum  or  principal,  or  whole. 
So  that  catholic  church,  or  catholic  faith,  is  as  much  as  to 
say,  as  the  first,  whole,  sound  or  chiefest  faith." 

This  definition  of  the  word,  given  by  one  of  the  most 
learned  men  and  soundest  divines  that  the  church  can  boast, 
deserves  attentive  consideration.  A  right  understanding 
of  it  would  tend  to  check  modern  protestants  in  the  mis- 
application of  the  term,  into  which  they  have  been  beguiled, 
through  false  delicacy  to  their  deluded  fellow-creatures ; 
who,  taught  by  their  crafty  guides,  insist  on  the  concession 
lo  them  of  a  title  which  we  cannot  allow  without  compro- 
mising our  conscience  and  principles.  It  was  a  point  on 
which  the  martyrs  were  always  found  ready  to  yield  their 
lives :  nor  would  they  use  the  term  Roman  Catholic,  see- 
ing that  it  implies  an  admission  of  the  first,  whole,  sound, 
or  chiefest  faith,  being  taught  in  the  church  of  Rome. 


PHILPOT.  69 

The  explanation  given  by  Philpot  was,  of  course,  unac- 
ceptable to  the  bishops :  Bonner,  whose  reading  was  nothing 
to  boast  of,  asked  those  around  if  the  passage  was  really 
to  be  found  in  Augustine,  as  cited ;  and  Dr.  Curtop  ac- 
knowledged that  it  was  so ;  and  Coventry  demanded  that 
the  book  should  be  examined  :  but  Bonner  knowing  by 
experience  that  such  references  tended  to  the  greater  tri- 
umph of  the  protestants,  got  angry,  declaring  he  would  break 
all  off  unless  they  were  quiet.  The  argument  then  pro- 
ceeded at  great  length,  Philpot  being  enabled  to  answer 
every  objection,  speaking,  like  Stephen,  with  a  wisdom  and 
spirit  which  none  could  gainsay  or  resist :  while  on  their 
part  some  moderation  was  exhibited,  until  Dr.  Story  came 
in,  to  whom  he  spoke  on  the  cruelty  of  his  imprisonment, 
and  delay  of  trial.  Story  commenced  a  torrent  of  the  most 
disgusting  language,  calling  him  a  beast,  fool,  ass-head,  and 
beastly  heretic,  scoffing  at  his  assertion  that  the  word  of 
God  was  the  appointed  judge  between  them.  Philpot,  how- 
ever, persisted  in  maintaining  it.  "  It  is  the  saying  of 
Christ,  in  St.  John,  '  The  word  which  I  have  spoken  shall 
judge  in  the  last  day.'  If  the  word  shall  judge  in  the  last 
day,  much  more  it  ought  to  judge  our  doings  now.  And  I 
am  sure  I  have  my  judge  on  my  side,  who  shall  absolve 
and  justify  me  in  another  world.  Howsoever  now  it  shall 
please  you  by  authority,  unrighteously  to  judge  of  me  and 
others,  sure  lam  in  another  world  to  judge  you."  "What!" 
exclaimed  Story,  "  you  purpose  to  be  a  stinking  martyr, 
and  to  sit  in  judgment  with  Christ,  at  the  last  day,  to  judge 
the  twelve  tribes  of  Israel?"  "Yea,  sir,  I  doubt  not  there- 
of, having  the  promise  of  Christ,  if  I  die  for  righteousness' 
sake,  which  you  have  begun  to  persecute  in  me." 

The  close  of  this  scene  exhibits  in  an  awful  light  the 
hardened  blindness  of  the  wretched  persecutor  Story,  con- 
trasted with  the  quiet  resignation  of  his  victim.  It  is  a 
solemn  thought,  that  the  record  remains  in  that  book  out  of 
which  the  dead  shall  be  judged.  After  much  railing,  Story 
said,  "Well,  sir,  you  are  like  to  go  after  your  father  Lati- 
mer, the  sophister,  and  Ridley,  who  had  nothing  to  allege 
for  himself  but  that  he  had  learned  his  heresy  of  Cranmer. 
When  I  came  to  him  with  a  poor  bachelor  of  arts,  he  trem- 
bled as  though  he  had  the  palsy;  as  these  heretics  have 
always  some  token  of  fear  whereby  a  man  may  know  them, 
as  you  may  see  this  man's  eyes  do  tremble  in  his  head. 
But  I  dispatched  them;  and  I  tell  thee  that  there  hath  been 


70  PHILFOT. 

yet  never  a  one  burnt,  but  I  have  spoken  with  him,  and 
have  been  a  cause  of  his  dispatch."  To  this  horrible  avowal 
Philpot  replied,  "  You  have  the  more  to  answer  for,  Mr. 
Doctor,  as  you  shall  feel  in  another  world,  how  much  so- 
ever you  do  now  triumph  of  your  proceedings,"  "  I  tell 
thee,"  continued  the  wretch,  "  I  will  never  be  confessed 
thereof.  And  because  I  cannot  now  tarry  to  speak  with 
my  lord,  I  pray  one  of  you  tell  my  lord  that  my  coming 
was  to  signify  to  his  lordship,  that  he  must  out  of  hand  rid 
this  heretic  out  of  the  way."  Then,  as  he  left  the  room  he 
said  to  Philpot,  "  I  certify  thee  that  thou  mayest  thank  none 
other  man  but  me."  "  I  thank  you  therefore,  with  all  mine 
heart,"  answered  the  martyr,  "  and  God  forgive  it  you." 
"  What !"  cried  the  other,  "  dost  thou  thank  me  ?  If  I  had 
you  in  my  study  half  an  hour,  I  think  I  should  make  you 
sing  another  song."  "  No,  Mr.  Doctor,  I  stand  upon  too 
sure  a  ground  to  be  overthrown  by  you  now."  One  by 
one,  the  persecutors  then  slunk  away,  till  Philpot  was  left 
alone.  When  his  keeper  afterwards  was  conducting  him  to 
his  coal-house,  they  were  met  by  Bonner,  vvho  in  the  smooth 
phrase  that  he  generallly  used  towards  him,  told  him  to 
require  any  thing  he  pleased,  in  his  house.  Philpot  replied, 
"  My  lord,  the  pleasure  that  I  will  require  of  your  lordship 
is  to  hasten  my  judgment  which  is  committed  unto  you, 
and  to  dispatch  me  forth  of  this  miserable  world,  unto  my 
eternal  rest."  Writing,  a  fortnight  afterwards,  he  says, 
"  for  all  this  fair  speech,  I  cannot  attain  hitherto  either  fire 
or  candle,  neither  yet  good  lodging.  But  it  is  good  for  a 
man  to  be  brought  low  in  this  world,  and  to  be  counted 
among  the  vilest,  that  he  may  in  time  of  reward  receive 
exaltation  and  glory.  Therefore,  praised  be  God  that  hath 
humbled  me,  and  given  me  grace  to  be  content  therewithal. 
Let  all  that  love  the  truth  say,  Amen." 

The  sixth  appearance  of  the  archdeacon  was  before  sun- 
dry noblemen:  the  queen's  chamberlain,  the  lords  Ferrars, 
Rich,  St.  John,  Windsor,  and  Chandois;  Sir  John  Bridges, 
and  two  others  unknown  to  him,  with  the  indefatigable  Bon- 
ner and  Dr.  Chedsey,  on  the  6lh  of  November.  They  were 
seated  at  a  table,  before  which  the  prisoner  stood,  and  after 
a  private  injunction  from  Bonner  to  conduct  himself  pru- 
dently, before  these  lords  of  her  majesty's  council,  he  was 
openly  called  on  by  the  bishop  to  say  what  he  could,  that 
it  might  appear  to  them  whether  he  and  his  brethren  had 
done  what  they  could  to  win  him  from  his  errors.    Philpot 


PHILPOT.  7l 

commenced  stating  his  case;  but  before  he  could  proceed 
he  was  required  to  say  whether  Bonner  had  been  the  cause 
of  his  imprisonment,  and  whether  he  had  experienced  any 
cruel  usage  at  his  hands.  He  answered  both  queries  in 
the  negative.  The  subject  of  his  privilege  in  the  convoca- 
tion-house was  then  discussed,  and  got  rid  of  by  a  misera- 
ble quibble  :  nevertheless  they  offered  to  overlook  what  had 
there  been  spoken,  provided  he  would  express  his  regret  for 
it,  and  acknowledge  their  idolatrous  sacrament,  against 
which  Bonner  assured  them  he  had  uttered  many  wicked 
things.  He  was  invited  to  declare  his  mind  upon  it;  and 
when  he  mentioned  that  it  was  a  matter  of  life  and  death  so 
to  do,  Rich  assured  him  they  would  take  no  advantage  of 
his  words.  Philpot  replied  that  he  did  not  mistrust  them; 
but  ihere  sat  one  among  them,  pointing  to  Bonner,  who 
would  lay  it  to  his  charge,  even  to  the  death.  However, 
he  declared  himself  willing  to  speak  fully,  if  Bonner  did 
not  hinder  him;  and  he  having  promised  not  to  interrupt, 
Philpot  spoke  freely  on  the  two  principal  points  where,  as 
he  said,  ihe  clergy  did  then  deceive  the  whole  realm  :  the 
sacrament,  and  the  assumed  catholicity  of  the  Romish 
church.  He  ended  by  offering  to  stand  against  the  best  in  the 
realm,  if  they  would  prevail  with  the  queen  to  give  him  a 
public  trial;  and  if  they  could  prove  themselves  to  be  the 
catholic  church,  he  would  revoke  all  his  former  opinions, 
and  consent  to  them  in  all  points,  Bonner  strove  repeat- 
edly to  interrupt  him;  but  was  held  to  his  pledge  by  the 
rest,  sorely  against  his  will.  Rich  then  compared  Philpot  to 
Joan  of  Kent,  who  was  burned  in  Edward's  days;  and  Bon- 
ner, with  a  great  parade  of  learning,  undertook  to  prove 
the  insufficiency  of  Scripture,  by  defying  him  to  reconcile, 
by  the  help  of  Scripture  alone,  the  two  texts,  "  My  Father 
is  greater  than  I,"  and  "  I  and  my  Father  are  one."  This 
he  did  beautifully;  and  after  being  fully  answered  in  all 
points  where  he  hoped  to  perplex  this  sound  divine,  and 
truly  spiritually  minded  Christian,  he  turned  to  his  fellows, 
saying,  "  You  see,  my  lords,  that  this  man  will  have  his 
own  mind,  and  wilfully  cast  away  himself.  I  am  sorry  for 
him."  Philpot  rejoined,  "  The  words  that  I  have  spoken 
be  none  of  mine,  but  the  gospel,  whereon  I  ought  to  stand. 
And  if  you,  my  lord  of  London,  can  bring  better  authority 
for  the  faith  you  will  draw  me  unto,  than  that  which  I 
stand  upon,  I  will  gladly  hear  the  same  by  you,  or  by  any 
other  in  this  realm."     Here  Philpot,  from  whose  own  nar- 


72  PHILPOT. 

rative  this  is  taken,  adds,  Wherefore  I,  kneeling  down,  be- 
sought the  lords  to  be  good  unto  me  a  poor  gentleman,  that 
would  fain  live  in  the  world  if  I  might,  and  testify  as  you 
have  heard  me  to  say  this  day,  that  if  any  man  can  prove 
that  I  ought  to  be  of  any  other  manner  of  faith  than  that 
of  which  I  now  am,  and  can  prove  the  same  sufficiently,  I 
will  be  neither  wilful,  nor  desperate,  as  my  lord  of  London 
would  make  you  believe  me  to  be.    No  reply  was  given. 

The  lord  Rich  asked  him  if  he  was  of  the  Philpots  of 
Hampshire;  and  on  his  replying  that  he  was,  being  sir  P. 
Philpot's  son,  Rich  exclaimed,  "  He  is  my  near  kinsman  ! 
Wherefore  I  am  the  more  sorry  for  him."  Philpot  thank- 
ed him  for  challenging  kindred  of  a  poor  prisoner;  and  he 
replied,  "  In  faith  I  would  go  a  hundred  miles  on  my  bare 
feet  to  do  thee  good."  Sir  John  Bridges  also  claimed  him 
as  a  countryman,  wishing  him  to  do  well:  but  all  this 
kindness  did  not  succeed  in  throwing  him  from  his  sure 
ground,  the  word  of  God,  to  which  he  continued  to  appeal, 
notwithstanding  their  persuasions  to  submit  to  some  other 
umpire.  Rich  laid  hold  on  this  to  tax  him  with  refusing 
to  believe  the  express  words  of  Christ,  "This  is  my  body," 
which  he  answered  by  showing  the  spiritual  meaning  both 
of  that,  and  of  the  text  cited  by  Bonner  from  John  vi.,  "  I 
am  the  bread  that  came  down  from  heaven."  When  foiled 
here,  Bonner  took  up  other  ground,  alleging  the  omnipo- 
tency  of  God,  and  asserting,  "  I  tell  thee  that  God,  by  his 
omnipotency,  may  make  himself  this  carpet  if  he  will." 
Philpot  proved  this  to  be  blasphemy,  and  maintained  his 
argument,  until,  appointing  Chedsey  to  carry  on  the  argu- 
ment, Bonner  invited  the  lords  to  drink  wine  with  him,  and 
to  leave  them  alone  together.  Bonner  having  quitted  the 
room  for  a  short  time,  Rich  requested  the  other  lords  to 
allow  the  poor  prisoner  to  drink  also,  for  he  was  thirsty: 
they  assented,  and  Philpot  thus  records  it.  With  that  he 
called  for  a  cup  of  drink,  and  gave  it  me,  and  I  drank  be- 
fore them  all :  God  requite  it  him,  for  I  was  athirst  indeed. 

Chedsey  now  began  his  harangue,  prefacing  it  by  a  state- 
ment that  so  far  from  Philpot  being  wronged,  by  not  being 
allowed  to  bring  forth  his  arguments  sooner,  he  had  leave 
to  speak  in  the  convocation-house,  and  being  soon  answer- 
ed in  what  he  could  say,  he  fell  to  weeping  for  lack  of  mat- 
ter: also  that  he  had  put  forth  a  book  of  that  disputation, 
in  which  there  was  never  a  true  word.  He  then  promised 
to  show  him  the  truth  of  transubstantiation,  but  Philpot, 


PHILPOT.  73 

roused  by  his  calumnies,  interposed,  saying,  "  It  is  a  shrewd 
likelihood  that  you  will  not  conclude  with  any  truth,  since 
you  have  begun  with  so  many  untruths  as  to  say  that  I 
was  answered  whiles  I  had  any  thing  to  say,  and  that  I 
wept  for  lack  of  matter  to  say,  and  that  the  book  of  the 
report  of  the  disputation  is  not  true.  God  be  praised,  there 
were  a  good  many  of  noblemen,  gentlemen,  and  worshipful 
men,  that  heard  and  saw  the  doings  thereof,  which  can  tes- 
tify that  you  have  made  an  unjust  report  before  these  hon- 
ourable lords.  And  that  I  wept,  was  not  for  lack  of  mat- 
ter, as  you  slander  me:  for,  I  thank  God,  I  have  more 
matter  than  the  best  of  you  all  shall  ever  be  able  to  answer, 
as  little  learning  as  I  have:  but  my  weeping  was  as  Christ's 
was  upon  Jerusalem,  seeing  the  destruction  that  should  fall 
upon  her.  And  I  foreseeing  then  tfie  destruction  which 
you,  through  violence  and  unrighteousness  which  you  there 
declared,  would  work  against  the  true  church  of  Christ,  and 
her  faithful  members,  as  this  day  beareth  witness,  was  com- 
pelled to  weep  in  remembrance  of  that  which  I,  with  infi- 
nity more,  have  felt  and  shall  feel."  Here  lord  Rich  per- 
suaded him  to  be  silent;  and  they  proceeded  to  discuss  the 
sacramental  question,  on  the  usual  grounds,  Philpot  admi- 
rably maintaining  and  elucidating  the  spiritual  meaning  of 
the  thing,  until  Bonner  returned;  who,  as  usual,  interposed, 
profaning  the  subject  by  his  gross  language,  comparing 
it  to  a  fat  capon,  and  so  forth:  and  then  suddenly  dissolv- 
ing the  sitting,  with  an  apology  for  having  troubled  them 
so  long  with  such  an  obstinate  man.  The  lords,  however, 
appeared  struck  and  amazed  with  what  they  had  heard 
from  this  noble  champion  of  the  truth,  and  left  him  without 
speaking  an  uncivil  word.  A  token  for  good,  over  which 
Philpot  devoutly  prayed  on  their  behalf. 

When  next  he  was  called  to  appear  before  the  bishops 
of  London  and  Rochester,  with  the  chancellor  of  Lichfield 
and  Dr.  Chedsey,  Bonner  saluted  him  with,  "Sirrah,  come 
hither.  How  chance  you  come  no  sooner?  Is  it  well  done 
of  you  to  make  Mr.  Chancellor  and  me  tarry  for  you  this 
hour?  By  the  faith  of  my  body,  half  an  hour  before  mass, 
and  half  an  hour  even  at  mass,  looking  for  your  coming." 
Philpot  mildly  replied,  that  being  a  prisoner,  and  the  doors 
shut  on  him,  he  could  not  come  out  when  he  listed;  but  as 
soon  as  the  doors  were  open  he  came  immediately.  Bon- 
ner then  repeating  that  they  sent  for  him  to  attend  mass, 
demanded  whether  he  would  have  done  so:  he  replied,  that 

MARTYROLOGY. — VOL,  II.  7 


74  PHILPOT, 

was  another  manner  of  question;  whereat  the  bishop  began 
to  rail,  telling  the  chancellor  that  he  was  an  ignorant  fool, 
who  wanted  to  appear  learned,  but  had  nothing  to  answer 
when  called  on.  Again  he  asked  if  Philpot  would  have 
come  to  mass :  he  replied  that  if  his  lordship  could  prove 
his  mass  to  be  the  true  service  of  God,  to  which  a  Chris- 
tian man  ought  to  come,  he  would  attend  it.  After  re- 
marking that  the  king  and  queen  and  all  the  nobility  of 
the  realm  came  to  mass,  Bonner  added,  "  By  my  faith  thou 
art  too  well  handled :  thou  shalt  be  worse  handled  here- 
after, I  warrant  thee."  He  replied,  "  If  to  lie  in  a  blind 
coal-house  may  be  counted  good  handling,  both  without 
fire  and  candle,  then  may  be  it  be  said  I  am  well  handled. 
Your  lordship  hath  power  to  entreat  my  body  as  you  list." 
The  bishop  then  protested  to  the  chancellor  of  Lichfield 
that  he  had  handled  them  all  most  gently;  that  he  allowed 
their  friends  to  visit  them ;  and  that  a  few  days  before  they 
had  mounted  the  leads  with  a  party  of  prentices,  gazing 
abroad,  as  though  they  were  at  liberty.  Philpot  replied, 
that  there  were  no  leads  to  the  coal-house,  and  of  prentices 
he  knew  not  one.  This  vile  falsehood  exposed,  Bonner 
proceeded,  adverting  to  Gardiner's  recent  death,  "  Nay, 
now  you  think,  because  my  lord  chancellor  is  gone,  that 
we  will  burn  no  more;  yes,  I  warrant  thee,  I  will  dispatch 
you  shortly  unless  you  recant."  Philpot  replied,  "  My  lord, 
I  had  not  thought  I  should  have  been  alive  now;  neither 
so  raw  as  I  am,  but  well  roasted  to  ashes." 

The  chancellor  of  Lichfield  then  besought  him  not  to 
cast  himself  wilfully  away;  but  to  be  ruled  by  Bonner  and 
other  learned  men.  He  answered,  "  My  conscience  bear- 
eth  me  record  that  I  seek  to  please  God,  and  that  the  love 
and  fear  of  God  causeth  me  to  do  as  I  do;  and  I  were  of 
all  other  creatures  most  miserable,  if  for  mine  own  will 
only  I  do  lose  all  the  commodities  I  might  have  in  this  life, 
and  afterwards  be  cast  to  damnation.  But  I  am  sure  it  is 
not  my  will  wherein  I  stand,  but  God's  will,  which  will  not 
suffer  me  to  be  cast  away,  I  am  sure."  Bonner,  impatient 
to  finish  the  work,  proceeded,  ex  oficio,  to  read  some  arti- 
cles that  he  had  framed,  insisting  on  his  answer:  Philpot 
at  once  stated  the  former  objection,  as  to  his  not  being  of 
that  diocess,  as  the  first  article  declared  him  to  be:  nor 
could  all  their  sophistry  bring  him  to  admit  the  usurped 
jurisdiction  of  Bonner;  they  were  therefore  obliged  to  pass 
on  to  the  second  article,  which  charged  him  with  being  out 


nriLPOT.  75 

of  the  catholic  faith,  and  not  of  the  same  church  as  he  was 
baptized  in.  He  replied,  I  am  of  the  same  catholic  faith; 
and  of  the  same  catholic  church  which  is  of  Christ  the 
pillar  and  establishment  of  truth."  They  told  him  his  god- 
fathers and  godmothers  were  of  another  faith  than  he  now 
was:  "I  was  not  baptized  either  into  my  godfathers'  faith 
or  my  godmothers',  but  into  the  faith  and  into  the  church 
of  Christ."  "  How  know  you  that?"  "  By  the  word  of 
God,  which  is  the  touchstone  of  faith  and  the  limits  of  the 
church."  "  How  long  has  your  church  stood,  pray  you?" 
said  Bonner.  "  Even  from  the  beginning,  from  Christ,  and 
from  his  apostles,  and  from  their  immediate  successors." 
"  He  will  prove  his  church  to  be  before  Christ,"  observed 
the  chancellor:  Philpot  replied,  "  If  I  did  so,  I  go  not  amiss; 
for  there  was  a  church  before  the  coming  of  Christ,  which 
maketh  one  catholic  church."  To  this  the  chancellor  as- 
sented. He  then  offered  to  prove  his  church  by  fhe  boasted 
rule  of  theirs:  antiquity,  universality,  and  unity;  at  which 
Bonner  exclaimed,  "  Do  you  not  see  what  a  bragging,  fool- 
ish fellow  this  is?  he  will  seem  to  be  very  well  seen  in  the 
doctors,  and  he  is  but  a  fool.  By  what  doctor  art  thou 
able  to  prove  thy  church  ?  Name  him,  and  thou  shalt  have 
him."  "  My  lord,"  said  Philpot,  "  let  me  have  all  your 
ancient  writers,  with  pen  and  ink  and  paper,  and  I  will 
prove  both  my  faith  and  my  church  out  of  every  one  of 
them." 

Bonner  refused  this:  and  proceeded  to  adduce  a  passage 
from  Cyprian,  to  prove  the  pope's  supremacy;  but  Philpot 
showed  how  grossly  they  wrested  the  meaning  of  these  old 
writers  to  serve  their  purpose.  One  after  another,  the 
whole  company  tried  their  skill,  and  were  successively  put 
to  silence  by  this  acute  disputant,  whose  learning  appears 
to  have  been  most  extraordinary.  When  any  passage  was 
cited  from  one  of  the  so-called  fathers,  Philpot  immediately 
brought  the  context,  showing  the  real  bearing  of  the  re- 
mark, Cyprian,  Augustine,  Eusebius,  Theophylact,  with 
various  councils  and  popes,  were  brought  forward;  but  of 
each  he  was  too  perfectly  master  to  be  blinded  or  silenced 
by  any  of  their  glosses.  At  last,  after  a  very  long  discus- 
sion, Chedsey  being  put  down,  the  chancellor  said,  "  Well, 
Mr.  Doctor,  you  see  we  can  do  no  good  in  persuading  of 
him:  let  us  minister  the  articles  which  my  lord  hath  left  us 
unto  him.  How  say  you  Mr.  Philpot  to  these  articles?  Mr. 
Johnson,  I  pray  you  write  his  answers."     But  Philpot  re- 


76  PHILPOT. 

plied,  "  Mr.  Chancellor,  you  have  no  authority  to  inquire 
of  me  my  belief  in  such  articles  as  you  go  about,  for  that 
I  am  not  of  my  lord  of  London's  diocess;  and  to  be  brief 
with  you,  I  will  make  no  further  answer  herein  than  I  have 
already  to  the  bishop. '  "  Why  then,"  said  the  disappointed 
doctor,  "  let  us  go  our  ways,  and  let  his  keeper  take  him 
away."  So  ended  what  Philpot  called  "  the  seventh  part 
of  this  tragedy." 

Early  the  next  morning,  ihe  bishop's  man  came  to  sum- 
mon Pliilpot  to  mass ;  who  replied,  "  My  stomach  is  not 
very  good  this  morning;  you  may  tell  my  lord  I  am  sick." 
However,  he  got  another  summons  immediately  after,  from 
the  keeper,  who  told  him  he  must  rise  and  go  to  the  bishop. 
He  obeyed ;  and  as  he  left  the  prison,  the  keeper  asked 
him,  "  Will  ye  go  to  mass?"  Philpot  answered,  "  My  sto- 
mach is  too  raw  to  digest  such  raw  meats  of  flesh,  blood, 
and  bone,  this  morning."  When  they  came  to  the  bishop's 
hall,  he  ordered  Philpot  to  answer  the  articles  that  his  chap- 
lain and  register  were  about  to  read  against  him ;  but  he 
demanded  an  open  judgment  before  a  lawful  assembly,  say- 
ing that  he  would  not  answer  in  corners.  "  Thou  art  a 
foolish  knave,  I  see  well  enough;  thou  shalt  answer  whe- 
ther thou  wilt  or  no;  go  thy  ways  with  them,  I  say."  "  I 
will  go  with  them  at  your  lordship's  pleasure;  but  I  will 
make  them  no  further  answers  than  I  have  said  already." 
Bonner,  enraged,  exclaimed,  "  No,  wilt  thou  not,  knave? 
Have  him  away,  and  set  him  in  the  stocks.  What,  foolish 
knave  !"  Philpot  rejoined,  "  Indeed,  my  lord,  you  handle 
me,  with  others,  like  fools ;  and  we  must  be  content  to  be 
made  fools  at  your  hands.  Stocks  and  violence  be  your 
bishop-like  alms.  You  go  about  by  force  in  corners,  to  op- 
press, and  be  ashamed  that  your  doings  should  come  to  light; 
God  shorten  your  cruel  kingdom,  for  his  mercies'  sake!" 
And  the  martyr  thus  concludes  his  record  of  this  day's 
work:  I  was  put,  by  and  by,  into  the  stocks,  in  a  house 
alone,  separate  from  my  fellows.  God  be  praised  that  he 
hath  thought  me  worthy  to  suffer  any  thing  for  his  name's 
sake!  Better  it  is  to  sit  in  the  stocks  of  this  world,  than  to 
sit  in  the  stocks  of  a  damnable  conscience. 

An  hour  before  day-break,  on  the  following  morning, 
the  poor  prisoner  was  called  on  by  the  keeper  to  go  to  the 
bishop  ;  but  he,  suspecting  some  purpose  of  secret  violence, 
refused  to  go.  Two  of  Bonner's  men  then  came,  and  for- 
cibly led  him  to  the  tyrant's  presence ;  who,  after  a  long 


PHILPOT.  77 

fit  of  railing,  told  him  he  was  blamed  for  suffering  such  a 
frantic  fellow  to  dispute  openly,  seeing  that  it  was  his  glory 
so  to  do:  and  reported  some  things  said  against  him  by 
White,  bishop  of  Lincoln ;  for  which  Philpot  easily  accounted 
by  remarking  that  he,  as  archdeacon,  had  formerly  excom- 
municated White  for  preaching  evil  doctrine  within  his  ju- 
risdiction;  adding,  "If  Christ,  my  Master,  were  called  a 
madman,  it  is  no  marvel  if  ye  count  me  frantic."  Bonner 
then  asked  him,  "  Hadst  thou  not  a  pig  brought  thee  the 
other  day,  with  a  knife  in  it?  Wherefore  was  it,  I  pray 
thee,  but  to  kill  thyself?  or,  as  it  is  told  me,  (marry,  I  am 
counselled  to  take  heed  of  thee)  to  kill  me?  But  I  fear  thee 
not.  I  trow  I  am  able  to  tread  thee  under  my  feet,  do  the 
best  thou  canst."  "  My  lord,  I  cannot  deny  but  there  was 
a  knife  in  the  pig's  belly  that  was  brought  me.  But  who 
put  it  in  or  for  what  purpose,  I  know  not,  unless  it  were 
because  he  that  sent  the  meat  thought  I  was  without  a 
knife,  and  so  put  it  in.  But  other  things  your  lordship 
needeth  not  to  fear :  for  I  was  never  without  a  knife  since 
1  came  to  prison.  And  touching  your  own  person,  you 
should  live  long,  if  you  should  live  until  I  go  about  to  kill 
you:  and  I  confess  by  violence  your  lordship  is  able  to 
overcome  me."  After  this  calm  and  dignified  reply  to  so 
preposterous  a  charge,  he  was  commanded  to  swear  pre- 
paratory to  giving  his  answers  to  the  articles  ;  but  he  stood 
on  his  former  objection  of  Bonner  not  being  his  ordinary. 
This  enraged  the  bishop,  who  pronouncing  himself  by  his 
own  authority  to  be  Philpot's  ordinary,  and  him  of  his  dio- 
cess,  seized  one  of  his  servants,  appointing  him  notary,  and 
ordering  the  other  prisoners  to  be  fetched,  that  they  might 
be  witnesses  against  their  companion.  While  he  was  thus 
raving,  one  of  the  sheritTs  of  London  came  in,  to  whom  he 
made  a  great  complaint  against  Philpot,  in  confirmation 
whereof,  he  read  over  a  long  string  of  articles  containing 
the  most  unfounded  falsehoods.  These  the  martyr  indig- 
nantly denounced,  saying  he  might  as  well  charge  him 
with  having  killed  his  father:  declaring  moreover  that  if  he 
maintained  the  abominable  blasphemies  rehearsed  by  Bon- 
ner, he  were  well  worthy  to  be  counted  a  heretic,  and 
burned  a  hundred  times,  if  it  were  possible.  Again  Bon- 
ner ordered  him  to  answer  to  the  articles;  again  he  refused, 
on  the  same  ground  as  before ;  and  then  the  bishop  turned 
to  the  other  suflferers,  who  had  been  brought  by  the  keeper 
at  his  command,  saying,  "  Come  hither,  sirs — hold  them  a 

7* 


78  PHILPOT. 

book — you  shall  swear  by  the  contents  of  that  book  that 
you  shall,  all  manner  of  affections  laid  apart,  say  the  truth 
of  all  such  articles  as  you  shall  be  demanded  of,  concern- 
ing this  man  here  present,  which  is  a  very  naughty  man; 
and  take  you  heed  of  him,  that  he  doth  not  deceive  you  :  as 
I  am  afraid  he  doth  you  much  hurt,  and  strengtheneth  you 
in  your  errors."  The  prisoners  with  one  consent  replied, 
"  My  lord,  we  will  not  swear,  except  we  know  whereto : 
we  can  accuse  him  of  no  evil ;  we  have  been  but  a  while 
acquainted  with  him."  Philpot  remarked,  "  I  wonder  your 
lordship,  knowing  the  law,  will  go  about,  contrary  to  the 
same,  to  have  infamous  persons  to  be  witnesses :  for  your 
lordship  doth  take  them  to  be  heretics,  and  by  law  a  heretic 
cannot  be  a  witness."  "  Yes,"  said  Bonner,  "  one  heretic 
against  another  may  be  well  enough.  And,  Mr.  Sheriff',  I 
will  make  one  of  them  to  be  a  witness  against  another." 
"  You  have  the  law  in  your  hand,  and  you  will  do  what 
you  list!"  observed  Philpot:  while  the  prisoners  firmly  an- 
swered, "  No,  my  lord."  "  No,  will  you  not?"  cried  Bon- 
ner; "  I  will  make  you  swear  whether  you  will  or  no.  I  ween 
they  be  anabaptists,  Mr.  Sheriff";  they  think  it  not  lawful 
to  swear  before  a  judge."  Philpot  said,  "  We  think  it 
lawful  to  swear  for  a  man  judicially  called;  as  we  are  not 
now,  but  in  a  blind  corner."  The  bishop  went  on,  "  Well, 
then,  seeing  you  will  not  swear  against  your  fellow,  you 
shall  swear  for  yourselves:  and  I  do  here  in  the  presence 
of  Mr.  Sheritr  object  the  same  articles  unto  you  as  I  have 
done  unto  him;  and  do  require  you  under  pain  of  excom- 
munication, to  answer  particularly  unto  every  one  of  them, 
when  ye  shall  be  examined,  as  ye  shall  be  by  and  by  ex- 
amined by  my  register,  and  some  of  my  chaplains."  The 
prisoners  again  replied,  "  My  lord,  we  will  not  accuse  our- 
selves. If  any  man  can  lay  any  thing  against  us,  we  are 
here,  ready  to  answer  thereto:  otherwise  we  pray  your 
lordship  not  to  burthen  us;  for  some  of  us  are  here  before 
you,  we  know  no  just  cause  why." 

For  this,  the  whole  party  was  forthwith  ordered  to  be 
placed  in  the  stocks :  but  at  night  through  the  compassion 
of  his  keeper,  Philpot  was  taken  out  for  a  time. 

On  the  following  Sunday,  the  bishop  visited  the  coal- 
house  at  night,  and  viewed  it,  saying  he  never  was  there 
before.  Whereby,  writes  Philpot,  a  man  may  guess  how 
he  hath  kept  God's  commandment,  in  visiting  the  prisoners, 
seeing  he  was  never  with  them  who  have  been  so  nigh  his 


PHILPOT.  79 

nose.  After  supper,  he  sent  for  Philpot,  told  him  that  the 
queen  and  council  blamed  him  for  keeping  him  so  long; 
that  as  he  injured  the  other  prisoners  by  strengthening 
them  in  their  errors,  he  would  separate  him  from  them  : 
and  that  if  he  did  not  conform,  he  would  dispatch  him  out 
of  hand.  Philpot  declared  his  desire  to  be  brought  speedily 
to  judgment;  and  also  his  willingness  to  conform  to  what- 
ever could  be  proved  to  be  better  truth  than  what  he  pro- 
fessed. He  then  addressed  the  wretched  tyrant  in  these 
solemn  words :  "  My  lord,  I  will  speak  my  mind  freely 
unto  you,  and  upon  no  malice  I  bear  you,  before  God. 
You  have  not  the  truth,  neither  are  you  of  the  church  of 
God ;  but  you  persecute  both  the  truth  and  the  true  church 
of  God,  for  the  which  cause  you  cannot  prosper  long.  You 
see,  God  doth  not  prosper  your  doings  according  to  your 
expectations :  lie  hath  of  late  showed  his  just  judgment 
against  one  of  your  greatest  doers,  who,  by  report,  died 
miserably.  I  envy  not  your  authority  you  are  in  ;  you  that 
have  learning  should  know  best  how  to  rule.  And  seeing  God 
hath  restored  you  to  your  dignity  and  living  again,  use  the 
same  to  God's  glory,  and  the  setting  forth  of  his  true  reli- 
gion;  otherwise  it  will  not  continue,  do  what  you  can." 
Bonner  seemed  confounded  for  a  while ;  then  said,  "  That 
good  man  was  punished  for  such  as  thou  art.  Where  is 
the  keeper?"  Having  given  his  secret  directions  to  the 
gaoler,  they  brought  Philpot  to  the  private  door,  leading 
into  the  church,  where  two  of  the  bishop's  men  were  com- 
manded to  accompany  him,  and  see  him  placed. 

They  then  conducted  their  patient  victim  through  St. 
Paul's,  and  round  to  a  tower,  near  Lollards'  tower,  and 
passing  through  six  or  seven  doors,  arrived  at  his  destined 
lodging  through  many  strait  passages,  where,  as  he  says, 
he  called  to  remembrance  that  strait  is  the  way  to  hea- 
ven. It  was  a  room  thirteen  feet  by  eight,  almost  over 
what  had  formerly  been  his  prison,  and  exposed  to  the 
view  of  the  bishop's  household.  On  his  arrival  he  was 
strictly  searched,  and  deprived  of  his  pen,  ink-horn,  girdle 
and  knife.  Having  a  suspicion  of  what  was  intended,  he 
had  contrived  to  make  away  with  many  a  sweet  and  friendly 
letter;  no  doubt,  to  save  the  writers  from  being  brought 
into  trouble  on  his  account ;  but  the  particulars  of  his  last 
examination  he  thrust  into  his  hose,  whence  it  fell  down 
his  leg,  which  the  keeper  feeling,  demanded  what  it  was. 
He  answered,  certain  letters:  and  drawing  up  the  papers 


80  PMILPOT. 

contrived  to  slip  the  more  important  one  into  another  part 
of  his  dress,  taking  out  two  letters,  of  small  moment, 
which  he,  to  give  them  an  appearance  of  consequence,  be- 
gan to  tear.  They  were  snatched  away;  and  by  this  means 
he  secured  vvhat  he  would  have  been  grieved  to  lose.  How- 
ever, as  they  left  him,  he  heard  a  suspicion  uttered  by  one, 
that  the  writings  in  his  hose  were  not  all  delivered  up; 
whereupon  it  was  resolved  to  return  and  search  him  more 
closely.  He  immediately  slipped  the  important  papers  into 
a  place  near  his  bed,  and  taking  some  old  letters  out  of  his 
purse,  began  tearing  and  throwing  them  out  at  the  win- 
dow; telling  the  searchers  when  they  came  back  and  found 
him  so  employed,  that  he  had  overheard  them.  This  so 
effectually  blinded  their  eyes  that  they  left  him,  for  which 
he  praised  God,  since  the  record  of  his  examinations  was 
likely  to  be,  as  indeed  it  has  proved,  of  great  service  to 
the  cause  of  the  gospel.  To  such  shifts  was  this  innocent, 
faithful,  and  persecuted  servant  of  Christ  reduced,  through 
the  savage  and  insolent  cruelty  of  men  every  way  his  in- 
feriors. 

The  recorded  examinations  of  this  martyr  amounted  to 
fourteen,  besides  private  interviews  such  as  have  been  de- 
scribed, with  his  wicked  tormentor.  On  the  morning  after 
this  last  outrage,  he  was  brought  down  to  the  wardrobe, 
and  kept  wailing  the  whole  day.  In  the  afternoon  he  was 
called  before  Bonner,  and  harassed  as  usual,  in  presence  of 
the  bishop  of  St.  David's,  Mordaunt,  and  others ;  but  as 
fruitlessly  as  before.  He  steadily  refused  to  recognize  Bon- 
ner's authority  over  him  ;  and  after  receiving  the  usual  por- 
tion of  bullying,  abuse,  and  misrepresentation,  he  was  sent 
back  to  the  coal-house. 

The  next  scene  was  of  a  different  kind;  Bonner,  finding 
he  would  neither  answer  the  articles  nor  listen  to  the  read- 
ing of  them,  began  to  use  persuasions;  on  which  Philpot 
resolved  to  hold  out  some  hope  of  being  prevailed  on  to  re- 
cant, to  the  intent,  as  he  writes  it,  that  he  might  give  him 
and  his  hypocritical  generation  a  further  foil:  for  they 
dared  reason  openly  with  none  but  such  as  for  lack  of  learn- 
ing were  unable  to  answer,  or  with  those  of  whom  they  had 
a  hope  that  the  love  or  fear  of  the  world  would  induce  them 
to  recant.  He  therefore  told  Bonner  that  having  openly, 
in  the  audience  of  many,  stood  to  his  opinions,  and  by 
learning  endeavoured  to  defend  them,  he  wished  it  openly 
to  appear  to  the  world  that  he  was  won  by  learning,  lest 


PHILPOT.  81 

they  should  say  that  from  an  unworthy  motive  he  was, 
without  any  ground,  turned  from  the  truth.  Bonner  ex- 
pressed great  delight,  at  hearing  him  speak  like  a  reason- 
able man;  promised  him  all  possible  indulgence  and  good 
entertainment  in  his  house ;  and  finally  asked  what  it  was 
that  he  would  openly,  by  learning,  be  somewhat  satisfied 
in?  Philpot  replied,  that  he  had  said  and  believed  that 
their  sacrifice  of  the  mass  was  no  sacrament :  and  imme- 
diately the  bishop,  with  his  chaplains  and  officials,  set  about 
converting  him.  Harpsfield,  Cosins,  and  others,  laboured 
to  make  good  their  point;  but  were  foiled  completely.  A 
few  of  the  concluding  passages  of  this  discussion  will  suffice 
to  show  how  it  went.  "  I  pray  you,  Mr.  Harpsfield,"  said 
Philpot,  "tell  me  what  this  pronoun,  hoc,  doth  demonstrate 
and  show,  in  this  indicative  proposition,  as  you  call  it.  Hoc 
est  corpus  meum,  this  is  my  body?"  Harpsfield  replied, 
"  It  doth  demonstrate  the  substance  of  bread,  which  by  the 
words  spoken  by  the  priest,  and  by  the  omnipotency  of 
God,  is  turned  into  the  substance  of  Christ's  very  body." 
"  Is  the  substance  of  bread,  as  you  say,  turned  into  Christ's 
body?"  "  Yea,  that  it  is."  •'  Why,  then,"  rejoined  Phil- 
pot, "  Christ's  body  receiveth  daily  a  great  increase  of 
many  thousand  pieces  of  bread  into  his  body;  and  that  is 
become  his  body  now  which  was  not  before;  and  by  this  you 
would  seem  to  make  that  there  is  an  alteration  in  Christ's 
glorified  body,  which  is  a  wicked  thing  to  think."  Harps- 
field now  began  to  reconsider  the  matter ;  and  seeing  the 
consequences  of  his  first  assertion  retracted  it;  saying  that 
the  substance  of  bread,  after  the  words  spoken  by  the 
priest,  was  evacuated,  or  vanished  away,  by  the  omnipo- 
tency of  God.  Philpot  observed,  "  This  is  another  song 
than  you  sang  first:  and  here  you  may  see  how  contrary 
you  are  to  yourselves.  For  indeed  your  schoolmen  do  hold 
that  the  very  substance  of  bread  is  really  changed  into  the 
substance  of  Christ's  body.  And  now  you,  perceiving  of 
late  the  inconvenience  which  is  objected  against  you  in  that 
opinion,  are  driven  to  imagine  a  new  shift,  and  say,  the 
substance  of  bread  is  evacuated,  contrary  to  that  your 
church  hath  first  believed  and  taught.  Oh  what  contra- 
riety is  there  among  you;  and  all  to  deface  the  sincere 
truth  !"  "  Is  not  God  omnipotent,"  asked  Harpsfield,  "  and 
cannot  he  do  as  he  hath  said?"  Philpot  replied,  "  But  his 
omnipotency  will  not  do  as  you  say,  contrary  to  his  word 
and  to  his  honour.     It  is  not  God's  honour  to  include  him 


82  PHILPOT. 

bodily  into  a  piece  of  bread,  and  of  necessity  to  tie  him 
thereto.  It  is  not  God's  honour  for  you  to  make  a  piece 
of  bread  God  and  man,  which  you  see  before  your  face 
doth  putrefy  after  a  certain  time.  Is  not  God's  omnipo- 
tency  as  able  to  give  his  body  with  the  sacramental  bread, 
as  to  make  so  many  turnings  away  of  the  bread  as  you  do, 
and  that  directly  against  the  Scripture,  which  calleth  it 
bread  many  times  after  the  consecration?  Are  you  not 
ashamed  to  make  so  many  alterations  of  the  Lord's  holy 
institution  as  you  do,  and  to  take  away  the  substantial  parts 
of  the  sacrament,  as,  "  Take  ye,  eat  ye,  drink  ye  all  of 
this:  do  ye  this  in  remembrance  of  me:"  and  to  place  in 
their  stead,  Hear  ye,  gaze  ye,  knock  ye,  worship  ye,  offer  ye, 
sacrifice  ye  for  the  quick  and  the  dead  ?  If  this  be  not  blas- 
phemy to  God  and  his  sacraments,  to  add  and  to  pluck  away 
in  this  sort,  and  that  contrary  to  the  mind  of  all  ancient 
writers,  and  contrary  to  the  example  of  Christ  and  all  his 
apostles,  tell  me." 

Harpsfield  could  only  reply,  "  I  know  you  have  gathered 
the  sayings  of  the  doctors  together,  which  make  for  your 
purpose;  1  will  talk  no  longer  with  you."  Philpot  said, 
"  I  pray  God  open  both  our  hearts,  to  do  more  his  will  than 
we  have  done  in  times  past."  To  which  Harpsfield  re- 
joined, "  Ho,  keeper,  take  him  away  with  you  !" 


CHAPTER  V. 


JOHN    PHILPOT. 


The  Holy  Spirit,  who  divideth  to  every  man  severally  as 
he  will,  the  gifts  of  grace,  seems  to  have  imparted  to  Phil- 
pot  a  more  than  common  measure  of  courageous  zeal. 
"  To  testify  the  gospel  of  the  grace  of  God,"  particularly 
as  opposed  to  the  dark  devices  of  popery,  was  the  object  in 
pursuit  of  which  he  not  only,  like  Paul,  counted  not  his  life 
dear  unto  him,  but  in  the  midst  of  such  cruelties  as  would 
have  broken  any  spirit  not  divinely  sustained,  it  was  his 
perpetual  study  to  force  or  to  entrap  his  adversaries  into  an 
argument,  where  he  might  expose  the  rotten  foundation  of 
their  refuge  of  lies.     Himself  an  ecclesiastic  of  high  order 


PHILFOT.  83 

in  ihe  church,  he  maintained  a  point  of  its  established  law 
with  a  cool,  settled  firmness,  that  set  at  nought  the  autho- 
rity, and  baffled  all  the  stratagems  of  Bonner,  who  seems 
to  have  been  sometimes  overawed  by  his  dignity,  at  others 
frightened  by  his  bursts  of  righteous  indignation.  Arch- 
deacon Philpot  was  evidently  a  man  of  fiery  temperament, 
with  no  small  measure  of  natural  wit  and  humour :  but 
every  high  imagination  that  might  have  exalted  itself  against 
Christ,  had  been  cast  down,  and  the  whole  man  brought 
into  a  beautiful  subjection  to  the  humbling  power  of  the 
gospel.  He  had  a  singular  talent  for  exposing  the  igno- 
rance and  hypocrisy  of  his  opponents;  or  rather  of  com- 
pelling them  to  expose  themselves :  patiently  resigned  to 
all  that  could  befal  his  body,  unshrinkingly  firm  in  what 
concerned  his  faith,  quick,  ardent,  energetic,  where  the 
honour  of  God  was  concerned.  It  is  matter  of  regret  that 
the  limits  of  our  volume  forbid  the  full  insertion  of  what  he 
recorded  of  his  examinations;  for  no  abstract  can  do  jus- 
tice to  his  learning,  ability,  constancy,  and  zeal. 

On  the  day  following  the  discussion  into  which  he  had 
led  them,  for  the  purpose  of  putting  one  of  their  false  doc- 
trines utterly  to  shame,  he  was  sent  for  by  Bonner,  whose 
disappointment  and  chagrin  at  the  turn  the  argument  had 
taken  may  be  imagined.  The  bishop  had  his  register, 
Chedsey,  and  others  assembled;  and  upon  these  he  called 
to  bear  witness  against  Philpot;  but  in  vain,  for  the  pri- 
soner entered  as  usual  his  appeal,  being  of  Winchester  dio- 
cess,  out  of  Bonner's  jurisdiction ;  and  as  he  knew  not  who 
had  succeeded  Gardiner  in  that  see,  he  appealed  to  the 
archbishop  of  Canterbury.  Bonner  being  forced  to  repair 
to  the  parliament,  a  foolish  priest  claimed  kindred  with 
Philpot,  wishing  by  that  means  to  influence  him  ;  and  on 
having  his  ignorance  exposed,  went  off  in  a  rage,  to  irri- 
tate Bonner  further  against  his  victim. 

The  eleventh  examination  was  conducted  under  circum- 
stances more  favourable  to  him:  the  bishops  of  Durham, 
Chichester,  and  Bath  being  present,  with  Chedsey,  Chris- 
topherson,  Harpsfield,  Weston,  Morgan,  Cosins,  and  others. 
He  was  permitted  to  speak  out,  despite  of  the  railing  accu- 
sations of  London,  and  was  treated  by  the  other  bishops 
with  gentleness  and  courtesy.  With  Durham  and  Chiches- 
ter he  argued  the  point  of  the  catholic  church ;  until  Bon- 
ner interrupted,  with  some  foolish  charges,  which  being 
easily  disproved,  he  went  on  to  accuse  Philpot  of  having 


84  PHILPOT. 

killed  his  own  father,  and  brought  down  upon  himself  his 
mother's  dying  curse.  This,  of  course,  he  repelled  as  a 
slanderous  lie  ;  while  Chichester  observed  they  were  mat- 
ters beside  the  purpose;  and  Durham,  in  disgust,  bade  his 
lordship  farewell.  Bonner  however  detained  him  to  hear 
some  important  matters,  and  then  produced  a  letter,  sub- 
stituted by  Phiipot  for  a  more  important  paper,  when  he 
was  searched,  and  which  he  tore,  the  better  to  mislead  the 
keeper.  The  bishop  had  been  at  the  trouble  of  pasting  the 
fragments  together,  and  now  tried  to  make  out  a  case 
against  the  prisoner  upon  it:  but  it  was  overthrown  at  once, 
by  the  very  witness  whom  he  produced  on  his  behalf. 
Then  came  the  story  of  the  pig,  and  of  a  bladder  of  black 
powder,  which  proved  to  be  ink-powder,  and  lastly  the  old 
charge  of  a  false  report  of  their  proceedings  in  the  convo- 
cation-house. Durham  would  hear  no  more,  but  departed, 
speaking  very  kindly  to  Phiipot ;  Bonner  following  him, 
and  the  bishop  of  Chichester  soon  going  also,  Christopher- 
son  took  the  case  in  hand,  and  tried  to  establish  the  supre- 
macy of  the  Romish  see,  swearing  not  a  little  as  he  went 
on.  When  he  was  silenced,  Morgan  assailed  the  martyr 
with  scoffs,  mocks,  and  jeers,  until  Christopherson  had 
plucked  up  courage  to  resume  the  argument  on  the  subject 
of  the  mass.  When,  however,  Phiipot  proved  that  the 
altar,  which  they  conceived  to  be  of  lime  and  stone,  signi- 
fies the  sacrifice  on  the  cross,  his  opponent  could  only  pray 
God  to  bless  him  out  of  the  company  of  such  an  obstinate 
heretic.  Bonner  meanwhile  had,  as  he  hoped,  discovered 
a  new  plot  to  allege  against  him ;  but  this  was  again  over- 
thrown by  his  own  witness:  and  all  departed  except  Harps- 
field,  Cosins,  and  Morgan.  The  latter  seems  to  have  been 
a  genuine  ruffian,  who,  after  some  taunting  sneers  at  Phil- 
pot's  church  and  religion,  at  length  roused  the  martyr  to 
address  him  in  terms  but  too  well  merited  by  him  and  his 
wicked  fellows.  The  occasion  was  this:  Phiipot  had  avow- 
ed  that  his  teaching,  and  that  of  all  who  held  the  truth, 
came  by  the  Spirit  of  God.  Morgan  asked  him,  "  How 
know  you  that  you  have  the  Spirit  of  God?"  He  replied, 
"  By  the  faith  of  Christ  which  is  in  me."  The  blasphemer 
retorted,  "  Ah,  by  faith  do  you  so?  I  ween  it  be  the  spirit 
of  the  buttery,  which  your  fellows  have  had  that  have  been 
burned  before  you,  who  were  drunk  the  night  before  they 
•went  to  their  death,  and  I  ween  went  drunken  unto  it." 
Phiipot  answered,  "  It  appeareth  by  your  communication 


PHILPOT.  85 

that  you  are  better  acquainted  with  the  spirit  of  the  buttery 
than  with  the  Spirit  of  God  ;  wherefore  I  must  now  tell  thee, 
thou  painted  wail  and  hypocrite,  in  the  name  of  the  living 
Lord,  whose  truth  I  have  told  thee,  that  God  shall  rain  fire 
and  brimstone  upon  such  scorners  of  his  word  and  blas- 
phemers of  his  people  as  thou  art."  "  What,  you  rage  now?" 
said  the  scoffer:  he  replied,  "Thy  foolish  blasphemies  have 
compelled  the  Spirit  of  God  which  is  in  me  to  speak  that 
which  I  have  said  to  thee,  thou  enemy  of  all  righteousness." 
"Why  do  ye  judge  me  so?"  asked  the  other.  "  By  thine 
own  wicked  words  I  judge  of  ihee,  thou  blind  and  blas- 
phemous doctor;  for,  as  it  is  written,  'By  thy  words  thou 
shalt  be  justified,  and  by  thy  words  thou  shall  be  condemn- 
ed.' I  have  spoken  on  God's  behalf;  and  now  I  have  done 
with  thee."  Morgan  resumed,  "  Why  then  I  tell  thee,  Phil- 
pot,  thou  art  an  heretic,  and  shall  be  burned  for  thine  here- 
sies, and  afterwards  go  to  hell-fire."  The  martyr  replied, 
"  I  tell  thee,  thou  hypocrite,  that  I  regard  not  thy  fire 
and  fagots;  neither,  I  thank  God  my  Lord,  stand  in  fear 
of  the  same  ;  my  faith  in  Christ  shall  overcome  them.  But 
the  hell-fire  with  which  thou  threatenest  me  is  thy  portion; 
and  is  prepared  for  thee  unless  thou  speedily  repent,  and 
for  such  hypocrites  as  thou  art."  Morgan  shamelessly 
went  on;  "What!  thou  speakest  upon  wine;  thou  hast  tip- 
pled well  to-day,  by  likelihood  1"  "  So  said  the  accursed 
generation,  of  the  apostles,  being  replenished  with  the  Holy 
Ghost,  and  speaking  the  wondrous  works  of  God  :  they 
said  they  were  drunk  when  they  had  nothing  else  to  say, 
as  thou  doest  now." 

After  some  further  sneers  and  reproaches,  on  the  part 
of  the  banded  persecutors,  which  moved  not  the  undaunted 
champion  of  God's  truth,  Bonner  came  in,  and  asked  how 
they  went  on;  Christopherson  said  it  was  folly  to  reason 
with  him  ;  he  was  incurable :  and  being  again  committed 
to  his  keeper,  he  took  an  opportunity  to  request  of  the  bishop 
the  indulgence  of  candle-light  during  the  long  nights,  which 
was  insultingly  refused,  Bonner  telling  him  he  could  say 
his  paternoster  without  a  candle.  His  parting  remark  was 
in  reply  to  Chedsey's  question  whether  he  did  not  think 
other  men  had  souls  to  save  as  well  as  he.  "  Every  man 
shall  receive  according  to  his  own  doings.  Sure  I  am  you 
are  deceived,  and  maintain  a  false  religion ;  and  as  to  my 
casting  away,  I  would  my  burning  day  were  to-morrow ; 
for  this  delay  is  every  day  to  die,  and  yet  not  to  be  dead." 

MARTYROLOGY. VOL.  II.  8 


86  PHILPOT. 

"  You  are  not  like  to  die  yet,  I  can  tell  you."  "  I  am  the 
more  sorry  thereof.  But  the  will  of  God  be  done  of  me  to 
his  glory.    Amen." 

After  being  thus  baited,  a  night's  respite  was  barely 
allowed  the  martyr:  three  of  the  bishop's  chaplains  came 
to  him,  in  the  Wardrobe,  where  he  had  been  early  taken 
down,  with  a  summons  to  attend  mass :  Philpot  told  them 
he  wondered  they  were  sent  on  so  fruitless  an  errand,  since 
he,  as  a  man  excommunicated,  was  by  their  law  excluded 
from  hearing  mass.  To  this  they  replied  that  the  bishop 
would  give  him  a  dispensation:  but  he  again  objected  that 
the  bishop  of  London,  not  being  his  ordinary,  could  not  do 
it.  This  was  one  of  the  many  childish  devices  whereby 
Bonner  sought  to  beguile  him  into  some  recognition  of  an 
authority  without  which  he  could  not  judicially  proceed 
against  him;  while  Philpot's  strenuous  resistance  of  his 
claims  arose  not  from  any  desire  of  escaping  the  flames, 
but  from  a  determination  to  compel  Bonner  to  bring  him  to 
an  open  trial  before  such  judges  as  their  wicked  laws 
allowed.  After  mass,  the  bishop  called  him,  and  having 
vented  his  displeasure,  as  usual,  recited  the  old  articles, 
asking  what  he  had  to  say  that  sentence  should  not  be 
given  against  him  as  a  heretic.  Philpot  answered,  that  to 
proceed  to  judgment  before  witnesses  had  been  examined, 
was  against  the  law,  as  all  his  former  proceedings  had 
been.  After  some  more  vain  efforts  to  entangle  him,  Bon- 
ner ordered  him  away:  but  he  was  presently  called  back, 
in  the  presence  of  the  bishops  of  Worcester  and  Bangor, 
before  whom  Bonner  told  him  that  they  were  sent  from  the 
synod  to  offer  him  grace,  if  he  would  at  once  turn  to  the 
church  of  Rome,  and  become  conformable  :  if  not,  his  time 
drew  near  to  an  end.  The  two  others  also  exhorted  him, 
Bangor  commending  his  own  example,  as  having  dissem- 
bled during  Edward's  days,  and  again  avowed  himself  a 
Romanist  when  the  times  changed.  Both  were  answered, 
respectfully  and  firmly;  and  then  Bonner  complained  to 
them  of  his  having  urged  his  excommunicate  state  as  an 
excuse  for  not  coming  to  mass :  comparing  him  to  Lati- 
mer, who,  he  said,  hearing  the  chancellor  of  Oxford  was 
coming  to  his  prison  to  take  him  to  mass,  sent  him  word 
that  he  was  sick  of  the  plague,  and  so  deluded  the  chancel- 
lor. However,  after  a  little  talk,  the  other  bishops  seemed 
to  judge  somewhat  favourably  of  Philpot,  and  promised 
him  leave  to  converse  with  Chichester,  whom  he  well  liked. 


PHILPOT.  87 

and  others  of  their  body.  Worcester  exhorting  him  in  the 
mean  season  to  pray  to  God  for  grace,  he  answered,  "  Prayer 
is  the  comfortablest  exercise  I  feel  in  my  trouble,  and  my 
conscience  is  quiet,  and  I  have  the  peace  of  mind  which 
cannot  be  the  fruit  of  heresy." 

After  dinner  they  again  called  him,  and  had  a  short  de- 
bale  respecting  the  catholic  church ;  when  they  departed, 
the  archdeacon  of  Oxford,  Dr.  Chedsey,  and  many  more 
came  in.  Wright  urged  him  to  become  one  of  the  catholic 
church ;  he  asserted  that  he  already  was  of  the  unfeigned 
catholic  church,  and  would  live  and  die  in  it :  adding,  "and 
if  you  can  prove  your  church  to  be  the  true  catholic  church, 
I  will  be  one  of  the  same."  "  What  proof  would  you  have?" 
said  Chedsey:  "I  will  prove  unto  you  our  church  to  have 
its  being  and  foundation  by  the  Scriptures,  by  the  apostles, 
and  by  the  primitive  church;  confirmed  with  the  blood  of 
martyrs,  and  with  the  testimony  of  all  confessors."  At  this 
Philpot  exclaimed,  "Give  me  your  hand,  master  doctor; 
prove  that,  and  have  with  you." 

"  If  I  had  my  books  here,"  said  Chedsey,  "  I  would  soon 
prove  it.  I  will  go  and  fetch  them."  However,  he  found 
it  not  convenient  to  bring  them;  so  he  only  produced  his 
book  of  annotations,  and  slid  from  his  proposed  wide  field 
into  a  question  respecting  the  real  presence.  Philpot  soon 
setting  him  right,  in  the  ordinary  plan  of  misinterpreting 
or  misquoting  Augustine,  he  could  only  swear  at  him  for  a 
subtle  fellow.  Philpot,  after  vindicating  his  own  reading, 
quietly  retorting  the  charge  of  subtlety,  observing,  "  What 
subtlety  is  this  of  you,  to  say  that  you  will  prove  your  mat- 
ter of  the  church  even  from  the  beginning,  promising  to 
show  your  books  therein,  and  when  it  cometh  to  the  show- 
ing, you  are  able  to  show  none;  and  for  want  of  proof 
slip  into  a  by  matter,  yet  faint  in  the  proof  thereof.  Afore 
God  you  are  barefaced  in  your  religion."  Chedsey  an- 
swered, "  You  shall  be  constrained  to  come  to  us  at  length, 
whether  you  will  or  no."  "  Hold  that  argument  fast,"  said 
Philpot:  "  it  is  the  best  you  have;  for  you  have  nothing  but 
violence." 

A  day  or  two  after  this,  he  was  brought  before  the  arch- 
bishop of  York,  and  the  bishops  of  London,  Bath,  and  Chi- 
chester. The  latter  began,  in  a  mild  strain,  exhorting  him 
to  humility  and  teachableness,  to  which  Philpot  replied,  that 
we  must  all  be  taught  by  God:  and  he  would  with  humility 


88  PHILPOT. 

learn  of  them  who  would  inform  him  of  his  duty  by  that 
word.  Acknowledging  the  bishop's  superior  learning,  he 
yet  extolled  the  simplicity  of  believing  what  God's  word 
teacheth.  He  would,  he  said,  gladly  and  thankfully  hear 
of  his  lordship  whatever  he  or  any  other  had  been  taught 
by  the  revelation  of  God's  word.  The  bishop  tried  to  over- 
throw this  doctrine  of  divine  teaching,  asking  how  we  be- 
lieved the  gospel  but  by  the  authority  of  the  church.  On 
this  point  they  reasoned  for  a  time,  until  the  archbishop 
came  up,  and  civilly  addressing  Philpot,  assured  him  of 
their  willingness  to  take  pains  with  him,  inquiring  on  what 
matter  he  wished  to  be  satisfied.  Philpot  mentioned  the 
subject  they  were  already  on,  of  the  church's  authority  to 
declare  what  was  the  truth :  and  York  asked  for  a  detini- 
tion  of  the  church — what  it  is.  Philpot  answered,  "  It  is 
a  congregation  of  people  dispersed  through  the  world,  agree- 
ing together  in  the  word  of  God;  using  the  sacraments, 
and  all  other  things  according  to  the  same."  The  arch- 
bishop  would  not  admit  this;  but  asked  if  the  church  was 
visible  or  invisible.  He  replied,  "  It  is  both  visible  and  in- 
visible. The  invisible  church  is  of  the  elect  of  God  only; 
the  visible  consists  both  of  good  and  bad."  They  then  en- 
tered on  the  meaning  of  the  word  catholic,  which  Philpot 
defined,  as  on  a  former  occasion,  while  York  insisted  that 
it  was  so  called  from  being  universally  received  of  all  na- 
tions for  the  most  part.  He  and  Chichester  brought  the 
succession  of  bishops  in  the  Romish  see  as  a  main  argu- 
ment; but  Philpot  said,  "  I  deny,  my  lord,  that  succession 
of  bishops  is  an  infallible  point  to  know  the  church  by:  for 
there  may  be  a  succession  of  bishops  known  in  a  place,  and 
yet  there  be  no  church;  as  at  Antioch  and  Jerusalem,  and 
at  other  places,  where  the  apostles  abode,  as  well  as  at 
Rome.  But  if  you  put  to  the  succession  of  bishops  suc- 
cession of  doctrine  withal,  as  Augustine  doth,  I  will  grant  it 
to  be  a  good  proof  of  the  catholic  church;  but  a  local  suc- 
cession only  is  nothing  available."  They  asked  him  if 
there  were  two  catholic  churches:  he  answered,  "  No,  I 
know  there  is  but  one  catholic  church  ;  but  there  have  been, 
and  be  at  this  present,  that  take  upon  them  the  name  of 
Christ  and  of  his  church,  which  be  not  so  indeed ;  as  it  is 
written,  '  There  be  they  that  call  themselves  apostles,  and 
be  not  so  indeed,  but  the  synagogue  of  Satan,  and  liars.' 
And  now  it  is  with  us  as  it  was  with  the  two  women  in 


PHILPOT.  89 

Solomon's  time,  which  lay  together,  and  the  one  supprest 
her  child,  and  afterward  went  about  to  challenge  the  true 
mother's  child." 

This  apt  illustration  was  of  course  unpalatable  to  the 
Romish  prelates :  York  reproached  him  for  babbling,  and 
he  apologised  for  any  hastiness  of  speech,  but  said  he 
wished  them  to  understand  all  his  mind,  that  they  might  sat- 
isfy him  through  better  authority.  Chichester  then  asserted 
that  Ridley,  with  all  his  learning,  was  never  able  to  show 
succession  of  bishops  in  his  church;  the  argument  having 
troubled  him  greatly.  Philpot  repelled  this,  saying  the 
argument  had  no  force,  since  he  had  denied  that  local  suc- 
cession of  bishops  in  one  place  was  a  necessary  point;  and 
also  reproved  him  for  making  Ridley  appear  so  ignorant. 
They  then  taunted  him  with  his  full  assurance  of  faith  ;  on 
which  he  said  with  admirable  force,  "  Let  him  doubt  of 
his  faith  that  listeth;  God  giveth  me  always  grace  to  be- 
lieve that  I  am  sure  of  true  faith  and  favour  in  Christ." 
Bath  asked,  "  How  will  you  be  able  to  answer  heretics,  but 
by  the  determination  of  the  known  catholic  church?"  He 
replied,  "  I  am  able  to  answer  all  heretics  by  the  word  of 
God,  and  convince  them  by  the  same."  While  they  were 
conversing,  York  found  a  passage  in  Augustine,  which  he 
considered  as  conclusive  on  the  authority  of  his  church ; 
but  Philpot  directly  showed  that  it  had  no  exclusive  refer- 
ence to  the  see  of  Rome.  They  now  began  to  call  him 
names,  and  received  a  reproof  for  their  blindness,  and  per- 
secuting spirit ;  on  which  Chichester  said,  "  Have  we  this 
thank  for  our  good-will,  coming  to  instruct  thee?"  He  an- 
swered, '"•  My  lords,  you  must  bear  with  me,  since  I  speak 
in  Christ's  cause ;  and  because  his  glory  is  defaced,  and 
his  people  cruelly  and  wrongfully  slain  by  you,  because 
they  will  not  consent  to  the  dishonour  of  God,  and  to  hypo- 
crisy  with  you:  if  I  told  you  not  your  fault,  it  would  be 
required  at  my  hands  at  the  day  of  judgment.  Therefore 
know  you,  ye  hypocrites  indeed,  that  it  is  the  Spirit  of  God 
that  telleth  you  your  sin,  and  not  I.  I  regard  not,  I  thank 
God,  all  your  cruelty.  God  forgive  you,  and  give  you 
grace  to  repent !"     They  then  departed. 

This  was  not  considered  enough  for  one  day:  for  before 
supper,  Philpot  was  called  a  third  time  to  Bonner,  sitting 
with  Harpsfield,  Chedsey,  and  others,  who  demanded  of 
him  once  more  if  he  would  conform,  and  received  the  same 
reply  that  he  must  prove  his  church  to  be  catholic.  Harps- 
8* 


90  PHILPOT. 

field  brought  out  again  his  four  points,  antiquity,  univer- 
sality, consent  of  nations,  and  succession  of  bishops  ;  but 
Philpot  claimed  them  for  his  own  church,  denying  that 
they  belonged  to  that  of  Rome.  It  ended  with  the  usual 
declaration  that  he  was  irreclaimable;  and  so  they  sent  him 
back  to  his  stocks.  No  more  of  his  examinations  were 
found  recorded  by  himself.  Either  he  was  prevented  wri- 
ting, or  they  were  made  away  with.  The  account  of  his 
last  appearance  before  the  commissioners  is  taken  from 
the  bishop's  registry;  affording,  of  course,  an  imperfect  state- 
ment, such  as  they  thought  fit  to  make ;  but  no  other  can 
be  found.  It  was  on  the  thirteenth  of  December,  1555,  that 
Philpot  was  brought  before  Bonner,  sitting  judicially  in  the 
consistory  of  St.  Paul's  ;  who  addressed  him,  stating  these 
three  things  as  being  specially  laid  to  his  charge:  "  I.  That 
you,  being  fallen  from  the  unity  of  Christ's  catholic  church, 
do  refuse,  and  will  not  come  to  be  reconciled  thereunto. 
II.  That  you  have  blasphemously  spoken  against  the  sacri- 
fice of  the  mass,  calling  it  idolatry.  III.  That  you  have 
spoken  against  the  sacrament  of  the  altar,  denying  the  real 
presence  of  Christ's  body  and  blood  to  be  in  the  same." 
Bonner  then  reminded  him  how  often  he  had  been  invited 
and  required  to  go  from  his  said  errors  and  heresies ;  giv- 
ing him  once  more  the  offer  of  pardon  and  reception  into 
their  church ;  and  finally  assuring  him  that  should  he  remain 
obstinate,  sentence  would  forthwith  be  pronounced  against 
him.  Philpot  replied,  under  his  usual  protestation  against 
the  bishop's  usurped  power,  to  the  first,  that  he  never  was 
out  of  the  catholic  church  :  and  as  for  the  sacrifice  of  the 
mass,  and  sacrament  of  the  altar,  he  never  spake  against 
them.  So  says  the  register ;  and  care  was  taken  to  make 
away  with  any  statement  of  his  own  to  the  contrary:  but 
all  his  examinations,  penned  by  his  own  hand,  show  that  he 
constantly  spoke  against  both;  and  the  sequel  of  his  reply 
proves  that  he  was  not  disposed  to  retract  any  thing:  for 
the  report  goes  on,  "  And  as  concerning  the  pleasure  of 
the  synod,  I  say  that  these  twenty  years  I  have  been  brought 
up  in  the  faith  of  the  true  catholic  church,  which  is  con- 
trary to  your  church,  whereunto  you  would  have  me  to 
come:  and  in  that  time  I  have  been  many  times  sworn — as 
well  in  the  reign  of  king  Henry  VIII.  as  in  the  reign  of 
good  king  Edward,  his  son — against  the  usurped  power  of 
the  bishop  of  Rome.  Which  oath  I  think  that  I  am  bound 
in  my  conscience  to  keep.    But  if  you  or  any  of  the  synod 


PHILPOT.  91 

can  by  God's  word  persuade  me  that  my  said  oath  was 
unlawful,  and  that  I  am  bound  by  God's  law  to  come  to 
your  church,  faith  and  religion,  whereof  ye  be  now,  I  will 
gladly  yield,  agree,  and  be  conformable  unto  you  :  other- 
wise, not." 

This  being  beyond  the  power  of  Bonner  and  his  learned 
doctors,  they  began  to  urge  him  with  large  promises  and 
bloody  threatenings  to  come  to  their  terms :  but  his  reply 
was,  "  You  and  all  other  of  your  sort  are  hypocrites;  and 
I  would  all  the  world  did  know  your  hypocrisy,  tyranny, 
ignorance  and  idolatry."  He  was  then  dismissed,  with  an 
order  to  be  brought  up  on  the  10th  of  the  month  for  the  de- 
finitive sentence  of  condemnation,  if  he  remained  in  his  for- 
mer constancy. 

When  the  time  came,  Bonner  presided  as  usual  in  the 
seat  of  Caiaphas-like  judgment,  assisted  by  his  brethren 
of  Bath,  Worcester,  and  Lichfield.  .  Bonner  began,  "My 
lords,  Stokesley,  my  predecessor,  when  he  went  to  give 
sentence  against  a  heretic  used  to  make  this  prayer,  which 
I  will  follow," — then  he  recited  one  in  Latin,  with  a  loud 
voice ;  on  which  Philpot  said,  "  I  would  ye  would  speak  in 
English,  that  all  men  might  hear  and  understand  you  :  for 
Paul  willeth  that  all  things  spoken  in  the  congregation  to 
edify  should  be  spoken  in  a  tongue  that  all  men  might  un- 
derstand." The  bishop  on  this  read  it  in  English,  and 
when  he  came  to  the  concluding  word,  "  to  refuse  those 
things  that  be  foes  to  his  name,"  Philpot  exclaimed,  "  Then 
they  all  must  turn  away  from  you.  You  are  enemies  to 
that  name;  God  save  us  from  such  hypocrites  as  would 
have  things  in  a  tongue  that  men  cannot  understand  !"  He 
then  warned  the  people,  telling  them  to  beware  of  the  bish- 
ops and  all  their  doings,  which  was  contrary  to  the  primi- 
tive church;  and  again  addressing  Bonner,  demanded  by 
what  authority  he  proceeded  against  him.  He  replied,  "  as 
bishop  of  London:"  and  Philpot  repeated  that  he  was  not 
his  bishop,  and  moreover  that  he  had  appealed  from  him : 
asking,  "  My  lord,  is  it  not  enough  for  you  to  worry  your 
own  sheep,  but  you  must  also  meddle  with  other  men's 
sheep  ?"  Two  books,  of  the  civil  and  the  canon  law,  were 
delivered  to  him,  that  he  might  there  see  the  proof  of  the 
bishop's  disputed  authority;  but  he  found  none  satisfactory; 
their  law  being,  as  he  said,  no  better  than  their  divinity. 
He  compared  them  to  men  dancing  in  a  net,  and  fancying 
none  could  see  them.     The  bishops  conferred,  and  then 


92  PHILPOT. 

tried  to  establish  their  point,  by  their  own  interpretation ; 
but  he  still  declared  it  false,  as  it  unquestionably  was  ;  and 
when  the  mayor  and  others  came  in,  Bonner  proceeded  to 
rehearse  again  his  prayer,  which  was  the  collect  for  the 
third  Sunday  after  Easter,  then  recited  the  articles  against 
Philpot,  and  delivered  an  exhortation  to  him,  wherein  he 
set  forth  the  enormity  of  his  heresy,  and  formally  invited 
him  to  recant,  as  he  must  otherwise  be  at  once  condemned. 
Philpot  answered  him  not,  but  turned  to  the  lord  mayor,  as 
bearing  the  sword,  expressing  his  regret  that  the  authority 
which  had  defended  the  gospel  and  the  truth  of  God's  word, 
should  now  be  changed,  and  at  the  commandment  of  anti- 
christ. He  then  more  fully  replied  to  the  articles,  repeat- 
ing that  he  was  never  out  of  the  catholic  church  of  Christ, 
though  he  was  not  of  the  Babylonish  church  of  Rome.  As 
to  the  mass,  he  had  not  spoken  against  the  true  sacrifice, 
but  of  their  private  masses,  used  in  corners,  which  were 
blasphemy  against  the  true  sacrifice,  the  death  of  Christ. 
That  the  abominable  thing  which  they  set  upon  the  altar, 
was  idolatry,  which  they  never  could  justify  by  God's 
word.  With  respect  to  his  denial  of  the  body  and  blood 
of  Christ  being  in  the  sacrament  of  the  altar,  he  could  not 
tell  what  altar  they  meant,  whether  the  altar  of  the  cross, 
or  the  altar  of  stone:  if  they  meant  it  of  the  latter,  he  de- 
nied their  Christ,  as  a  rotten  (or  corruptible)  thing.  Touch- 
ing their  transubstantiation,  he  said,  he  utterly  denied  it, 
for  it  was  brought  up  first  by  a  pope :  and  as  to  the  synod, 
gathered  together  in  antichrist's  name,  let  them  prove  that 
to  be  of  the  catholic  church,  and  he  would  follow  them. 
He  taxed  them  with  being  not  only  idolaters,  but  traitors ; 
railing  in  their  pulpits  against  good  kings,  as  Henry  and 
Edward,  who  withstood  the  usurped  power  of  the  bishop  of 
Rome,  against  whom  he  also  had  taken  an  oath,  and 
abusing  the  mind  of  their  present  queen,  whose  heart,  with 
the  king's,  he  prayed  God  to  turn  from  their  synagogue 
and  church.  The  bishop  of  Lichfield  then  began  to  extol 
the  true  catholic  church,  set  upon  a  high  hill,  and  to  dis- 
parage Martin  Luther's  church,  with  that  at  Geneva.  A 
long  disputation  ensued,  which  is  not  related;  but  when 
Bonner  found  it  going  against  his  friends,  he  interposed, 
with  an  argument  worthy  of  himself.  He  produced  a  knife, 
and  a  bladder  full  of  powder,  and,  showing  them  to  the  lord 
mayor,  said,  "  My  lord,  this  man  had  a  roasted  pig  brought 
unto  him,  and  this  knife  was  put  secretly  between  the  skin 


PHILPOT,  93 

and  the  flesh  thereof,  and  so  it  was  sent  him  being  in  pri- 
son. And  also  this  powder  was  sent  unto  him,  under  pre- 
tence that  it  was  good  and  comfortable  for  him  to  eat  or  to 
drink,  which  powder  was  only  to  make  him  ink  to  write 
withal.  For  when  his  keeper  did  perceive  it,  he  took  it, 
and  brought  it  unto  me.  Which  when  I  did  see,  I  thought 
it  had  been  gunpowder,  and  thereupon  I  put  fire  to  it,  but 
it  would  not  burn.  Then  I  took  it  for  poison,  and  so  gave 
it  to  a  dog,  but  it  was  not  so.  Then  I  took  a  little  water, 
and  it  made  as  fair  ink  as  ever  I  did  write  withal.  There- 
fore, my  lord,  you  may  understand  what  a  naughty  fellow 
this  is."  When  he  had  finished,  the  martyr  said,  "  Ah, 
my  lord,  have  you  nothing  else  to  charge  me  withal,  but 
these  trifles,  seeing  I  stand  upon  life  and  death  ?  Doth  the 
knife  in  the  pig  prove  the  church  of  Rome  to  be  a  catholic 
church?" 

Bonner  then  brought  forth  his  other  grievances;  a  copy 
of  the  articles  of  religion  agreed  upon  at  the  universities,  to 
which  Philpot  was  a  party:  two  printed  books,  one  the 
catechism  set  forth  in  king  Edward's  days,  the  other  the 
report  of  what  passed  in  the  convocation-house,  so  often 
referred  to.  To  these  were  added  some  of  the  papers  that 
Philpot  designedly  allowed  his  keeper  to  seize ;  but  which 
contained  no  matter  of  accusation,  and  out  of  all  these  he 
strove  to  strengthen  his  miserable  case  against  the  faithful 
witness  for  God's  truth.  Growing  weary,  at  length,  he 
cut  all  short,  just  repeating  the  stale  offer  of  pardon  at  the 
price  of  his  soul,  and  then  going  on  to  read  the  final  sen- 
tence. When  he  came  to  the  words,  that  described  the 
victim  as  an  obstinate,  pertinacious,  impenitent  heretic, 
Philpot  exclaimed,  "I  thank  God  that  I  am  a  heretic  out 
of  your  accursed  church ;  I  am  no  heretic  before  God. 
But  God  bless  you,  and  give  you  once  grace  to  repent  your 
wicked  doings;  and  let  all  men  beware  of  your  bloody 
church." 

It  also  appears,  that  when  Bonner  vvas  about  the  middle 
of  the  wicked  sentence,  the  bishop  of  Bath  pulled  him  by 
the  sleeve,  saying,  "  My  lord,  my  lord,  know  of  him  first 
whether  he  will  recant  or  no."  Bonner  replied,  "  Oh,  let 
him  alone;"  and  so  finished  reading  it,  after  which  he  de- 
livered him  to  the  sheriffs,  who  brought  him  through  the 
bishop's  house  to  Paternoster-row,  where  his  poor  servant 
seeing  him  led  along,  cried  out,  "Ah,  dear  master!" 
"  Content  thyself,"  said  his  master,  "  I  shall  do  well  enough ; 


94  PHILPOT. 

for  thou  shall  see  me  again."  The  officers  thrusting  the 
man  away,  proceeded  to  Newgate  with  their  captive,  who 
said  to  the  people  as  they  went  along,  "  Ah,  good  people, 
blessed  be  God  for  this  day!"  When  they  came  to  the 
prison,  the  poor  servant  pressed  forward  to  enter  with  his 
master,  but  was  violently  repulsed  by  the  officers,  Mr.  Phil- 
pot  endeavouring  to  reconcile  him  to  it  by  saying  he  should 
speak  with  him  on  the  morrow  :  but  the  under-keeper  com- 
passionately gave  him  permission  to  enter  with  him.  They 
were  first  shown  into  a  small  room,  until  Alexander,  the 
principal  gaoler,  came  to  them.  He  saluted  the  archdeacon 
with,  "  Ah,  hast  thou  done  well  to  bring  thyself  hither?" 
Philpot  replied,  "  Well,  I  must  be  content,  for  it  is  God's 
appointment ;  and  I  shall  desire  you  to  let  me  have  your 
gentle  favour,  for  you  and  I  have  been  of  old  acquaint- 
ance." The  gaoler  said  he  would  show  him  favour  if  he 
would  be  ruled  by  him:  and  on  being  asked  what  he  would 
have  him  do,  he  replied,  "  to  recant."  "  Nay,"  said  Mr. 
Philpot,  "  I  will  never  recant,  whilst  I  have  my  life,  that 
which  I  have  spoken:  for  it  is  most  certain  truth,  and  in 
witness  thereof  I  will  seal  it  with  my  blood."  Alexander 
remarked,  "  This  is  the  saying  of  the  whole  pack  of  your 
heretics,"  and  then  barbarously  commanded  him  to  be  set 
upon  the  block,  and  as  many  irons  to  be  put  upon  him  as 
he  could  support. 

The  clerk  then  whispered  to  Alexander  that  Mr.  Philpot 
had  given  his  man  money:  on  which  the  gaoler  asked  him 
what  sum  his  master  had  given  him  :  he  said,  none.  The 
other  threatened  to  search  him;  and  he  told  him  he  might 
do  so,  for  his  master  had  only  given  a  token  or  two  for  his 
friends,  such  as  his  brothers  and  sisters.  The  savage  keeper 
then  reproached  his  victim  with  being  a  maintainer  of  he- 
retics, saying  his  man  should  be  known  well  enough;  but 
he  mildly  answered  him,  and  requested  him  to  allow  the 
irons  to  be  taken  offi  Alexander  said  if  he  would  give  him 
his  fees,  they  should  be  taken  off;  if  not,  he  might  wear 
them  still ;  and  named  four  pounds  as  the  price.  "  Ah," 
said  Philpot,  "  I  have  not  so  much :  I  am  a  poor  man  and 
have  been  long  in  prison."  "What  will  you  give  me  then?" 
asked  the  harpy.  "  Sir,"  he  replied,  "  I  will  give  you 
twenty  shillings,  and  that  I  will  send  my  man  for;  or  else 
I  will  lay  my  gown  in  gage;  for  the  time  is  not  long,  I  am 
sure,  that  I  shall  be  with  you;  for  the  bishop  said  to  me 
that  I  should  be  soon  dispatched."   "  What  is  that  to  me?" 


PHILPOT.  95 

exclaimed  the  inhuman  gaoler,  as  he  walked  away,  giving 
orders  to  lay  him  in  close  confinement;  yet  before  he  was 
taken  down,  thus  manacled,  from  the  block,  the  clerk 
would  have  a  groat  as  his  fee. 

Whose  heart  does  not  throb  with  indignation  while  peru- 
sing this?  Yet  it  was  their  Master's  cup  of  which  His  ser- 
vants thus  drank,  and  highly  did  they  esteem  the  privi- 
lege— sweet  to  them  is  the  remembrance  now  of  the  cross 
that  preceded  their  crown. 

The  steward  of  the  house  took  the  fettered  captive  on 
his  back,  and  carried  him  down,  his  servant  knew  not 
where :  but  Philpot  bade  him  go  to  the  sheriff  and  tell  him 
how  he  was  used — probably  more  to  relieve  the  faithful  do- 
mestic's distress  than  his  own.  The  man  took  another  witness 
with  him,  and  went  straightway  to  Mr.  Matcham,  one  of  the 
sheriffs,  who  no  sooner  heard  how  Mr.  Philpot  was  handled, 
than  he  took  off  a  ring  from  his  finger,  and  delivered  it  to 
the  servant's  companion,  bidding  him  show  it  to  Alexander, 
and  in  his  name  command  him  to  take  off  the  irons,  to 
treat  him  kindly,  and  to  restore  what  he  had  been  deprived 
of.  When  the  insolent  keeper  received  the  message,  and 
saw  the  ring,  he  said,  "  Ah,  I  perceive  that  Mr.  Sheriff  is 
a  bearer  with  him  and  all  such  heretics  as  he  is;  therefore 
to-morrow  I  will  show  it  to  his  betters."  However,  at  ten 
o'clock  at  night,  he  thought  fit  to  go  to  the  dungeon  to  take 
off  the  irons,  and  to  restore  again  what  he  had  robbed  the 
prisoner  of. 

Next  night,  at  supper-time,  there  came  a  messenger  from 
the  sheriffs,  bidding  Mr.  Philpot  make  him  ready,  for  the 
following  day  he  should  suffer  and  be  burned  at  a  stake 
with  fire.  He  said,  "  I  am  ready;  God  grant  me  strength, 
and  a  joyful  resurrection."  Then  going  to  his  chamber, 
he  poured  out  his  spirit  unto  the  Lord  God;  giving  him 
most  hearty  thanks  that  he  of  his  mercy  had  made  him 
worthy  to  suffer  for  his  truth.  In  the  morning  the  sheriffs 
came,  about  eight  o'clock,  and  called  for  him  ;  and  he  most 
joyfully  came  down  to  them.  His  affectionate  servant  then 
met  him,  saying,  "  Ah,  dear  master,  farewell ;"  to  whom 
he  said,  "  Serve  God,  and  he  will  help  thee."  As  they 
came  up  to  Smithfield  the  way  was  foul,  and  two  officers 
took  him  up,  to  bear  him  to  the  stake;  on  which  he  mer- 
rily said,  "  What,  will  ye  make  me  a  pope?  I  am  content 
to  go  to  my  journey's  end  on  foot."  On  first  reaching  the 
place,  so  famous  as  the  altar  on  which  God's  dear  servants 


96  PHILPOT. 

offered  their  lives,  a  willing  sacrifice  to  His  name  and 
cause,  Philpot  kneeled  down,  saying,  "  I  will  pay  my  vows 
in  thee,  O  Smithfield,"  Coming  to  the  stake  he  kissed  it, 
and  said,  "  Shall  I  disdain  to  suffer  at  this  stake,  seeing 
my  Redeemer  did  not  refuse  to  suffer  most  vile  death  upon 
the  cross  for  me?"  and  then  meekly  he  recited  the  cxvi. 
and  two  following  Psalms,  When  he  had  ended  he  turned 
to  the  officers,  asking  what  they  had  done  for  him ;  and  as 
each  told  him  what  had  been  his  portion  of  the  cruel  office, 
he  gave  them  money,  according  to  their  services. 

Then  they  bound  him  to  the  stake,  and  set  fire  to  that 
constant  martyr,  who  in  the  midst  of  the  burning  flames 
yielded  his  soul  into  the  hands  of  Almighty  God,  like  a 
lamb  giving  up  his  breath,  as  like  a  lion  he  had  been  bold 
and  courageous  in  defence  of  the  gospel. 

The  manner  in  which  his  examinations  were  penned  by 
his  own  hand,  and  preserved  for  the  church,  in  spite  of  the 
great  efforts  of  his  persecutors  to  hinder  it,  is  extraordinary. 
It  shows  that  the  Lord  would  neither  suffer  the  words  of 
such  a  witness  to  fall  to  the  ground,  nor  the  example  of  his 
great  patience  and  steadfastness  to  be  lost  to  his  fellow- 
Christians.  The  wretched  Bonner  lived  to  see  Fox's  spi- 
rited narrative  published,  and  that  record  of  his  atrocious 
cruelties  set  up  in  parish  churches  beside  the  Bible,  for  the 
public  use  of  the  people. 

Archdeacon  Philpot  was  the  last  who  suffered  in  that 
memorable  year,  1555  :  he  was  burned  on  the  18th  of  De- 
cember, and  the  next  butchery  occurred  in  the  same  place, 
towards  the  end  of  January  following.  They  had  already 
put  to  death  nearly  all  the  principal  men,  bishops  and  pas- 
tors, over  the  fold  of  Christ ;  and  now  they  turned  their 
cruel  hands  upon  the  poor  of  the  flock  with  merciless  vio- 
lence; people  inferior  in  degree,  though,  blessed  be  God, 
not  in  steadfastness,  and  having  among  them  some  who 
were  both  learned  and  of  good  estimation.  The  following 
individuals  were  in  one  day  condemned,  and  burned  in  one 
fire.  Thomas  Whittle,  Baetlet  Green,  John  Jud- 
soN,  John  Went,  Thomas  Brown,  Isabel  Foster,  and 
Joan  Waene.  Of  these,  Whittle  was  a  priest.  Green 
a  lawyer,  Judson  and  Went  were  artificers,  and  Joan 
Warne  was  the  daughter  of  two  martyrs,  whose  story  has 
been  already  related.  The  usual  articles  were  exhibited 
against  them,  charging  them  with  leaving  the  catholic 
church  and  the  faith  of  their  godfathers,  speaking  against 


WHITTLE.  97 

the  mass,  and  remaining  obstinate  in  their  errors :  to  which 
they  answered,  as  their  brethren  slain  before  them  had 
usually  done. 

Whittle  was  that  priest  of  whom  John  Philpot  made 
mention,  as  having  found  him  in  the  stocks,  rejoicing  ex- 
ceedingly in  having  been  brought  back,  after  his  recanta- 
tion. When  first  apprehended,  he  had  been  taken  before 
Winchester  by  his  captor,  who  hoped  for  some  preferment 
in  reward  of  his  zeal ;  but  Gardiner  was  then  on  his  death- 
bed, and  so  far  from  thanking  him,  asked  him  in  a  great 
rage  if  there  was  no  man  to  whom  he  might  bring  such 
rascals  but  to  him.  "  Hence,"  said  he,  "  out  of  my  sight, 
thou  varlet;  what,  dost  thou  trouble  me  with  such  matters?" 
The  greedy  preferment-hunter,  repulsed  in  this  quarter, 
took  his  prisoner  to  Bonner,  who  at  first  treated  him  most 
barbarously,  beating  and  bruising  him  about  the  face;  but 
afterwards  by  smooth  speeches,  mingled  with  threats,  pre- 
vailed on  him  to  set  his  hand  to  a  bill  of  recantation.  How 
his  conscience  tormented  him  for  this,  and  how  he,  by 
tearing  the  paper,  brought  himself  again  under  the  cross, 
has  been  related.  He  was  then,  after  being  most  savagely 
assaulted  and  wounded  by  Bonner,  kept  in  prison  till  the 
14th  of  January,  when,  being  brought  to  the  consistory 
with  others,  he  was  first  called  on  by  the  bishop  of  Lon- 
don, who  said,  that  whereas  in  time  past  Whittle  had  said 
mass,  according  to  the  order  then  used,  he  now  of  late  had 
spoken  and  railed  against  the  same,  saying  it  was  idolatry 
and  abomination.  To  which  Whittle  replied,  that  at  such 
time  as  he  so  said  mass,  he  was  ignorant ;  adding  that  the  ele- 
vation of  the  host  at  the  mass  giveth  occasion  of  idolatry  to 
them  that  be  ignorant  and  unlearned.  Having  vainly  endea- 
voured to  shake  his  resolution,  Bonner  first  degraded  him,  by 
divesting  him  of  his  priestly  trinkets  and  clerkly  habit.  In 
the  midst  of  these  foolish  ceremonies.  Whittle  said, "  Paul  and 
Titus  had  not  so  much  ado  with  their  priests  and  bishops: 
my  lord,  your  religion  standeth  most  with  the  church  of 
Rome,  and  not  with  the  catholic  church  of  Christ."  When 
asked  what  fault  he  found  with  the  administration  of  the 
sacrament  of  the  altar,  he  answered,  "  It  is  not  used  ac- 
cording to  Christ's  institution,  for  that  it  is  privately  and 
not  openly  done.  And  also  for  that  it  is  ministered  but  in 
one  kind  to  the  lay  people,  which  is  against  Christ's  ordi- 
nance. Further,  Christ  commanded  it  not  to  be  elevated 
or  adored ;  for  the  adoration  and  elevation  cannot  be  ap- 

MARTYROLOGY. — VOL.  11.  9 


98  BAKTLET    GREEN. 

proved  by  Scripture."  He  was  again  offered  favour,  if  he 
would  return  to  the  Romish  persuasion  ;  but  strengthened 
by  the  grace  of  God,  he  stood  firm,  and  was  committed  to 
the  secular  power,  a  condemned  man,  in  a  few  days  to  seal 
his  testimony  with  his  blood.  He  wrote  some  beautiful 
letters  from  the  prison,  to  various  persons,  which  prove 
him  to  have  been  a  Christian  of  no  ordinary  gifts,  enabled 
unfeignedly  to  rejoice  in  the  tribulation  from  which  he,  in 
the  infirmity  of  the  flesh,  had  once  for  a  little  space  shrunk. 

Bartlet  Green  was  the  son  of  highly  respectable 
parents,  who  gave  him  a  fair  education.  At  Oxford,  he 
proved  himself  a  good  scholar,  profiting  much  in  secular 
studies,  but  greatly  opposed  to  the  truth,  through  the  igno- 
rance that  was  in  him.  During  the  latter  period  of  his 
studies,  he  had,  however,  attended  the  lectures  of  Peter 
Martyr,  then  the  divinity  lecturer  in  Oxford,  which  was 
made  instrumental  to  his  conversion  from  double  darkness 
to  the  clear  light  of  the  gospel.  Removed  from  the  univer- 
sity, he  became  a  student  in  the  Temple,  where,  by  evil 
example  and  want  of  watchfulness,  he  was  gradually 
led  into  some  worldly  follies  and  excesses,  which  occa- 
sioned him  much  grief  and  self-reproach,  when  God  again, 
by  his  inexhaustible  mercy,  recovered  him  from  those 
crooked  paths.  The  young  man's  chief  support  was  de- 
rived from  his  grandfather.  Dr.  Bartlet,  a  zealous  member 
of  the  Romish  communion,  who  assailed  him  with  large 
offers  of  worldly  advantages  if  he  would  recant,  and  return 
to  his  old  superstition  ;  but  in  vain.  Green  was  of  a  very 
sweet,  amiable  disposition,  meek,  humble,  discreet,  and 
benevolent :  beloved  by  all,  save  those  who  hated  him  for 
the  truth  which  he  followed.  Among  the  many  whom  he 
benefitted  was  a  faithful  Christian,  named  Christopher 
Goodman,  who  had  been  his  companion  and  friend  at  Ox- 
ford, in  Edward's  days  ;  but  was  now  a  poor  exile  beyond 
the  seas,  banished  by  the  popish  government.  With  him' 
Green  continued  to  correspond ;  as  it  proved,  to  the  grief 
of  both,  for  Goodman  thereby  lost  his  friend,  and  the  other 
his  liberty,  and  ultimately  his  life. 

A  report,  it  seems,  had  been  spread  of  Mary's  death, 
among  the  banished  Protestants,  and  Goodman  wrote  to 
Green  to  inquire  concerning  it:  Green  simply  answered, 
that  the  queen  was  not  dead.  This  letter,  with  many  others 
from  the  flock  in  England  to  their  exiled  brethren,  fell  into 
the  hands  of  the  council,  by  the  apprehension  of  their  mes- 


BARTLET    GKEEN.  99 

senger.  Green's  expression,  "  the  queen  is  not  dead,"  ap- 
peared so  treasonable  to  these  careful  investigators,  that  he 
was  immediately  taken  into  custody;  but  as  they  could  not 
found  such  a  charge  upon  words  so  easily  explained,  they 
taxed  him  with  favouring  the  gospel,  and  on  that  ground 
detained  him  in  prison,  until  it  seemed  good  to  them  to  send 
him  to  Bonner,  for  judgment  as  a  heretic.  He  found  the 
bishop  with  two  other  prelates,  Harpsfield,  Welch,  Dean, 
Roper,  and  others,  seated  together,  and  Bonner  commenced 
by  asking  the  cause  of  his  apprehension,  which  he  fully 
detailed,  but  Bonner  affirmed  that  there  was  another  reason 
for  it,  and  asked  if  he  had  not,  since  his  committal  to  the 
Fleet,  written  or  spoken  somewhat  against  the  natural  pre- 
sence of  Christ  in  the  sacrament  of  the  altar.  Green,  in 
reply,  begged  the  bishop  to  allege  no  new  matters  against 
him  till  he  should  be  discharged  of  the  old ;  and  when  he 
persisted  herein,  Welch  justified  the  order  of  proceeding; 
saying  that  if  he  had  been  imprisoned  for  treason,  and  had, 
while  in  durance,  maintained  heresy,  it  was  no  objection 
to  the  ordinary  examining  him :  as  his  acquittal  or  con- 
demnation on  the  latter  point  would  not  affect  the  former. 
So  artfully  could  they  entangle  a  victim  whom  they  had 
resolved  to  destroy!  Finding  all  protestation  vain.  Green 
desired,  according  to  law,  to  hear  his  accusers:  when  Ched- 
sey  was  summoned,  who  reported  that  in  the  presence  of  the 
lieutenant  of  the  tower  and  another,  he  had  spoken  against 
the  real  presence,  and  the  sacrifice  of  the  mass;  also  affirm- 
ing that  their  church  was  the  church  of  antichrist.  Bon- 
ner asked  him,  "  Was  this  true?"  He  answered,  "  Yea." 
"  Will  you  continue  therein  ?"  "  Yea."  "  Wilt  thou  main- 
tain it  by  learning?"  said  he  again.  Green  replied, 
"  Therein  I  show  myself  to  have  little  wit,  knowing  mine 
own  youth  and  ignorance,  if  I  would  take  on  me  to  main- 
tain any  controversy  against  so  many  grave  and  learned 
men.  But  my  conscience  is  satisfied  in  the  truth,  which  is 
sufficient  for  my  salvation."  "  Conscience !"  cried  Roper, 
"  so  shall  every  Jew  and  Turk  be  saved."  A  great  deal  of 
talk  followed;  and  then  Welch  called  him  aside,  telling  him 
how  sorry  he  was  for  his  case,  dwelling  on  his  youth,  and 
acknowledged  want  of  learning ;  assuring  him  that  he  had 
read  all  which  the  reformers  had  written,  and  had  also  been 
present  when  learned  men  conferred  with  them,  and  that 
he  found  there  was  one  truth,  which  from  the  beginning 
had  been  maintained  ;  while  all  who  swerved  from  that 


100  BARTLET    GREEN. 

unity  were  answered  again  and  again.  With  great  subtil- 
ty,  and  no  lack  of  eloquence  or  wit,  this  man  strove  to 
draw  Green  into  his  net.  To  this,  Green  gave  an  admira- 
ble reply,  meekly  acknowledging  the  other's  superiority 
and  his  own  deficiencies ;  but  adding  that  God  was  not 
bound  to  time,  wit,  or  knowledge,  rather  choosing  the  weak 
things  of  the  world  to  confound  the  strong.  "  Neither  can 
men  appoint  bounds  to  God's  mercy;  for  "  I  will  have  com- 
passion," saith  he,  "  upon  whom  I  will  show  mercy." 
There  is  no  respect  of  persons  with  God,  whether  it  be  old 
or  young,  rich  or  poor,  wise  or  foolish,  fisherman  or  bas- 
ket-maker. God  giveth  knowledge  of  his  truth,  through 
his  free  grace,  to  whom  he  list.  James  i.  Neither  do  I 
think  myself  only  to  have  the  truth,  but  steadfastly  believe 
that  Christ  hath  his  spouse,  the  catholic  and  universal 
church,  dispersed  in  many  realms,  where  it  pleaseth  him. 
Spiritus  ubi  vult  spiral:  no  more  is  he  addicted  to  any 
one  place  than  to  the  person  and  equality  of  one  man.  Of 
this  church  I  nothing  doubt  myself  to  be  a  member,  trust- 
ing to  be  saved  by  the  faith  that  is  taught  in  the  same. 
But  how  this  church  is  known  is,  in  a  manner,  the  end  of 
all  controversy.  And  the  true  marks  of  Christ's  church 
are  the  true  preaching  of  his  word,  and  ministering  of  his 
sacraments.  These  marks  were  sealed  by  the  apostles, 
and  confirmed  by  the  ancient  fathers,  till  at  length  they 
were,  through  the  wickedness  of  men  and  the  devil,  sore 
worn,  and  almost  utterly  taken  away.  But  God  be  praised 
that  he  hath  renewed  the  print,  that  his  truth  may  be  known 
in  many  places.  For  myself,  I  call  God  to  witness,  I 
have  none  hope  in  my  own  wit  and  learning,  which  is  very 
small ;  but  I  was  persuaded  thereto  by  him,*  as  by  an  in- 
strument, that  is  excellent  in  all  good  learning  and  living. 
And  God  is  my  record  that  chiefly  I  sought  it  of  Him,  by 
continual  prayer  with  tears."  He  concluded  in  these 
words,  "  Now  I  am  brought  hither  before  a  great  many  of 
bishops  and  learned  men,  to  be  made  a  fool  and  a  laugh- 
ing-stock, but  I  weigh  it  not  a  rush ;  for  God  knoweth  that 
my  whole  study  is  to  please  him  ;  besides  that,  I  care  not 
for  man's  pleasure  or  displeasure." 

Welch  spoke  him  very  fair;  and  on  his  saying  that  be- 
fore he  could  judge  whether  he  had  any  thing  to  learn  of 
them,  he  must,  as  Welch  boasted  of  having  done,  read  what 
was  written  on  both  sides,  he  returned  to  Bonner,  with  an 
»  He  probably  alludes  to  Peter  Martyr. 


BARTLET   GREEN  101 

assurance  that  the  young  man  was  willing  to  learn  ;  and  in 
the  hope  of  ensnaring  him,  he  was  forthwith  received  into 
Bonner's  house,  well  lodged,  well  fed,  and  kindly  treated, 
with  only  the  annoyance  of  frequent  disputations,  in  which 
Bonner  tried  to  overpower  him  with  logic  and  tricks  of  the 
schools.  Thus  far  Green  himself  related  the  casein  a  let- 
ter to  Philpot,  which,  however,  did  not  reach  him:  it  ap- 
pears by  the  sequel,  that  Bonner  perceiving  his  learning, 
over  which  his  humility  had  cast  a  veil,  to  be  such  as  he 
could  not,  with  all  his  chaplains  and  doctors,  confute,  and 
his  constancy  immovable,  brought  forth  his  best  argument 
— the  rigour  of  the  law,  and  murderous  execution;  an  ar- 
gument which,  without  the  special  grace  of  God,  is  to  our 
weak  flesh  unanswerable.  He  therefore  caused  a  confes- 
sion of  true  faith,  by  him  deemed  heresy,  to  be  drawn  out, 
to  which  Bartlet  Green  willingly  set  his  hand  on  the  27lh 
of  December,  nearly  six  weeks  from  his  first  examination. 
On  the  15th  of  January,  1556,  he  was  brought  with  the 
others  before  the  consistory  in  Paul's,  where  Bonner  sat  in 
judgment,  accompanied  by  Fecknam,  then  dean,  and  some 
of  his  chaplains.  Green  was  the  last  of  the  seven  called 
up  for  judgment;  and  Bonner  in  presenting  him,  made  a 
speech  to  vindicate  himself  from  the  charge  of  seeking  his 
blood,  on  the  ground  of  the  council's  letter  concerning  him. 
Then  he  objected  the  articles,  as  to  the  rest  of  the  martyrs, 
and  a  long  discussion  ensued  between  Fecknam  and  the 
prisoner,  as  to  the  interpretation  of  some  passages  in  the 
old  doctors;  but  when  the  question  was  put,  whether  he 
would  recant,  he  said,  "  Nay,  I  will  not.  But,  my  lord,  in 
old  time  there  were  no  men  put  to  death  for  their  con- 
science, until  such  time  as  bishops  found  the  means  to 
make  it  death  to  believe  contrary  to  them ;  but  excommu- 
nication, my  lord,  was  the  greatest  penalty  which  men  had 
for  their  conscience :  yea,  insomuch  that  Augustine  wrote, 
and  commanded  that  no  man  should  be  put  to  death  for 
his  opinion."  Bonner  said,  that  when  Augustine  saw  what 
inconveniences  followed  of  that  commandment,  he  wrote 
again  to  the  temporal  rulers,  commanding  them  to  punish 
their  bodies  also.  "  But,"  said  Green,  "  he  bade  not  put 
them  to  death."  "  He  bade  punish  them,"  quoth  Bonner. 
"  Yes,"  said  Green,  "  but  not  put  them  to  death."  "  That 
they  should  be  punished,"  repeated  Bonner.  He  then  asked 
Green  if  he  would  recant,  and  return  to  the  Romish  unity; 
which  when  he  declined,  Bonner  pronounced  the  definitive 

9* 


102  BARTLET    GREEN. 

sentence,  and  so  committed  him  to  the  sheriffs,  who  took 
him  to  Newgate.  On  his  way  thither,  there  met  him  two 
gentlemen,  both  of  whom  were  his  especial  friends,  who  in- 
tended to  offer  some  comfort  to  their  persecuted  brother ; 
but  on  seeing  him,  their  sorrow  and  affection  overflowed  in 
abundance  of  tears.  The  martyr,  in  gentle  reproof,  said, 
"  Ah,  my  friends,  is  this  your  comfort  you  are  come  to 
give  me  in  this  my  occasion  of  heaviness?  Must  I,  who 
needed  to  have  comfort  ministered  to  me,  become  now  a 
comforter  of  you  ?"  Then  declaring  his  peaceable  mind 
and  conscience,  he  continued  to  speak  cheerfully  to  them 
and  others  till  they  came  to  the  prison  door,  into  which  he 
joyfully  entered,  and  there  gave  himself  to  prayer,  in  which 
he  constantly  delighted,  and  to  other  godly  exercises,  until 
the  day  of  his  martyrdom,  to  which  he  went  cheerfully 
along,  repeating  by  the  way,  and  also  at  the  stake,  some 
Latin  verses,  thus  rendered  into  English; 

O  Christ,  my  God,  sure  hope  of  health  beside  thee  have  I  none : 
The  truth  I  love,  and  falsehood  hate ;  be  thou  my  guide  alone. 

Bartlet  Green  who  was  only  twenty-five  years  of  age, 
was  singularly  gifted  with  the  most  unaffected  lowliness  of 
mind,  looking  on  himself  so  humbly,  that  nothing  grieved 
him  like  language  of  praise  or  commendation.  Fox  re- 
lates the  fact,  as  having  heard  it  from  his  own  mouth,  that 
he  was  cruelly  beaten  and  scourged  with  rods  by  savage 
Bonner;  at  which  he  did  indeed  greatly  rejoice,  but  through 
the  modesty  of  his  nature  avoided  making  mention  of  it, 
lest  he  should  seem  to  glory  too  much  in  himself.  Besides 
this,  the  tenderness  and  compassion  that  constantly  showed 
themselves  in  him,  towards  all  who  were  distressed,  and  his 
zealous  efforts  to  interest  his  friends  on  behalf  of  some  re- 
pentant criminals  in  his  prison,  proved  him  to  be  one  of 
those  of  whom  the  world  was  not  worthy.  Among  other 
beautiful  pieces  of  writing,  the  following  penned  just  be- 
fore he  suffered,  affords  a  sweet  picture  of  the  state  of  his 
mind. 

"Better  is  the  day  of  death,  says  Solomon,  than  the  day 
of  birth.  Man  that  is  born  of  a  woman  liveth  but  a  short 
time,  and  is  replenished  with  many  miseries ;  but  happy 
are  the  dead  that  die  in  the  Lord.  Man  of  woman  is  born 
in  travail,  to  live  in  misery;  man  through  Christ  doth  die 
in  joy,  and  live  in  felicity.  He  is  born  to  die,  and  dieth  to 
live.     Straight  as  he    cometh  into  the  world,  with  cries 


THOMAS    BROWN.  103 

he  uttereth  his  miserable  estate ;  straight  as  he  departeth, 
with  songs  he  praiseth  God  for  ever.  Scarce  yet  in  his 
cradle,  three  deadly  enemies  assail  him;  after  death,  no  ad- 
versary may  annoy  him.  Whilst  he  is  here,  he  displeaseth 
God ;  when  he  is  dead,  he  fulfilleth  his  will.  In  this  life 
here,  he  dieth  through  sin  ;  in  the  life  to  come,  he  liveth  in 
righteousness.  Through  many  tribulations  on  earth  he  is 
still  purged;  with  joy  unspeakable  in  heaven  he  is  made 
pure  for  ever.  Here  he  dieth  every  hour ;  there  he  liveth 
continually.  Here  is  sin  ;  there  is  righteousness.  Here  is 
time,  there  is  eternity.  Here  is  hatred ;  there  is  love.  Here 
is  pain  ;  there  is  pleasure.  Here  is  misery;  there  is  felicity. 
Here  is  corruption ;  there  is  immortality.  Here  we  see 
vanity,  there  shall  we  behold  the  majesty  of  God,  with  tri- 
umphant and  unspeakable  joy,  in  glory  everlasting.  Seek 
therefore  the  things  that  are  above,  where  Christ  sitteth  at 
the  right  hand  of  God  the  Father;  unto  whom,  with  the  Son 
and  the  Holy  Ghost,  be  all  honour  and  glory,  world  with- 
out end.     Amen." 

Fox,  who  seems  to  have  regarded  this  young  Christian 
with  peculiar  affection,  thus  quaintly  concludes  his  eulogy, 
after  adverting  to  his  profession  of  the  temporal  law;  "I 
would  to  God  he  were  not  among  the  lawyers  such  a 
phoenix,  that  he  had  very  few  or  no  fellows  to  fly  with  him, 
or  to  follow  his  steps.  But  God  is  to  be  praised,  that  though 
we  read  of  few  or  none  among  that  sort  who  died  as  he  did, 
yet  good  witnesses  do  spring  up  daily  of  the  same  pro- 
fession, to  such  towardness  and  godly  zeal,  that  some  hope 
appeareth  shortly  to  come  to  pass,  that  this  goodly  phcenix 
shall  not  fly  alone." 

Thomas  Brown  was  reported  by  the  constable  of  St. 
Bride's  parish  to  Bonner,  for  not  coming  to  the  church ; 
and  was  taken  to  Bonner's  house  at  Fulham,  to  be  exa- 
mined. While  there  he  was  summoned  one  morning  to 
mass,  which  he  refused  to  attend,  and,  going  into  the  war- 
ren, kneeled  down  to  pray  among  the  trees,  while  they 
celebrated  their  idolatrous  service  in  the  chapel.  He  was 
kept  prisoner  from  September  to  the  following  January, 
then  brought  up  for  judgment  with  the  other  six.  Bonner 
addressed  him,  with  a  boast  of  the  pains  he  had  taken  to 
convert  him;  "yet,"  said  he,  "thou  and  such  like  have 
and  do  report  that  I  go  about  to  seek  thy  blood."  The  poor 
man  boldly  answered,  "  Yea,  my  lord,  indeed  ye  be  a 
blood-sucker ;  and  I  would  I  had  as  much  blood  as  there 


104  JUDSON WENT ISABEL  FOSTER. 

is  water  in  the  sea  for  you  to  suck."  He  was  then  called 
on  to  forsake  his  heresies,  which  he  promised  to  do  if  they 
would  prove  them  to  he  such :  but  instead  of  attempting 
this,  they  tried  to  win  him  by  fair  words  and  promises  of 
pardon;  until  he  finally  said,  "  Prove  it  to  be  heresy  that  I 
do  hold  and  maintain,  and  I  will  turn  to  you.  But  you 
condemn  me  because  I  will  not  confess  and  believe  the 
bread  in  the  sacrament  of  the  altar,  as  you  call  it,  to  be  the 
body  of  Christ;  and  therefore  ye  spill  mine,  and  such  like 
innocent  blood,  being  the  queen's  true  subjects ;  for  which 
ye  shall  answer,  and  thai  shortly."  He  was  then  con- 
demned. 

JuDsoN,  a  native  of  Ipswich,  afterwards  apprenticed  in 
London,  was  complained  of  to  Cholmley  and  Story,  who 
sent  him  to  Bonner.  The  like  persuasions  were  resorted  to, 
as  with  the  others ;  but  he,  constantly  persisting  in  what 
he  had  received  by  faithful  preachers  in  Edward's  time, 
could  not  be  moved  therefrom.  He  maintained  that  he  had 
not  offended;  and  that  his  belief  was  no  heresy;  and  so 
received  sentence  of  death. 

John  Went  was  born  in  Langham,  Essex,  a  poor  man, 
who,  being  examined  of  his  faith  by  Story,  was  pronounced 
a  heretic,  and  sent  to  Bonner.  He  withstood,  calmly  and 
resolutely,  all  their  solicitations,  neither  flinched  from  their 
threats,  but  said  he  would  not  recant :  by  the  leave  of  God, 
he  would  stand  firm  and  constant  in  what  he  had  said. 
Sentence  was  presently  given. 

Isabel  Fostek  was  a  native  of  Grafstock,  near  Carlisle, 
married  to  a  cutler  in  Fleet  street,  and  informed  against  for 
not  coming  to  church.  Bonner  tried  to  overcome  her  de- 
termination, during  her  imprisonment,  but  in  vain.  She 
appeared  before  the  consistory  with  the  others ;  and  her 
reply  to  all  their  exhortations  to  forsake  her  former  an- 
swers, was,  "  I  will  not  go  from  them,  by  God's  grace." 
The  condemnation  was  pronounced,  which,  in  a  few  days 
after,  ended  her  troubles  here,  to  find  a  better  rest  in  the 
kingdom  of  Christ,  her  Saviour. 

Joan  Warne,  or  Lashford,  was  the  last  of  the  seven:  her 
story  has  already  been  related.*  They  all  ended  their  lives 
in  the  flames  of  Smithfield,  rejoicing,  and  praising  God,  on 
the  27th  of  January,  1556. 

On  the  31st  of  the  same  month,  a  fire  was  kindled  in 
Canterbury,  for  five  more  of  the  Lord's  chosen  ones.   John 
*  Vol.  i.  page  339. 


JOHN    LOMAS AGNES    SMITH.  105 

LoMAS,  a  young  man  being  cited,  and  asked  if  he  believed 
the  catholic  church,  replied  that  he  believed  so  much  as  is 
contained  in  God's  book,  and  no  more.  On  his  next  ex- 
amination, he  was  asked  if  he  would  confess  to  a  priest: 
and  said  that  he  found  it  not  written  in  God's  book  that  he 
should  be  confessed  to  any  priest :  neither  would  he  be 
confessed,  unless  he  were  accused  by  some  man  of  sin. 
Again  examined,  as  to  whether  he  believed  the  body  of 
Christ  to  be  in  the  sacrament  of  the  altar,  under  the  forms 
of  bread  and  wine,  after  the  consecration,  he  answered  that 
he  believed  no  reality  of  Christ's  body  to  be  in  the  sacra- 
ment; neither  found  he  written  that  he  is  there,  under  form 
or  tressel,  but  he  believed  so  much  as  is  written.  No  other 
reply  would  he  give. 

Agnes  Smith,  a  widow,  was  also  accused  and  cited  for 
the  true  profession  of  Christ's  religion.  She  denied  con- 
fession to  a  priest,  admitting  the  propriety  of  confessing 
our  offences  one  to  another,  as  God  has  enjoined.  Of  the 
sacrament,  she  said  that  if  she  or  any  other  did  receive  it 
so  as  Christ  and  his  apostles  after  him  did  deliver  it,  then 
she  and  they  did  receive  it  to  their  comfort :  but  as  it  is 
now  used  in  the  church,  she  said  that  no  man  could  other- 
wise receive  it  than  to  his  damnation,  as  she  thought.  She 
denied  penance  to  be  a  sacrament;  declared  the  popish 
manner  of  absolution  to  be  not  consonant  to  God's  word  ; 
and  in  this  faith  stood  fast. 

Joan  Sole,  for  not  allowing  auricular  confession,  and  for 
denying  the  real  substance  of  Christ's  body  to  be  in  the 
wafer ;  Anne  Albright,  for  objecting  to  auricular  con- 
fession, and  for  calling  their  sacrament  of  the  altar  a 
naughty  and  abominable  idol ;  and  Joan  Catmer,  widow 
of  one  who  had  before  received  the  crown  of  martyrdom, 
who  maintained  the  same  truth,  completed  the  number. 
The  man  and  four  women  were  fastened  to  two  stakes,  in 
one  fire,  and  while  the  flames  raged  above  their  heads, 
sung  psalms  to  Almighty  God.  Sir  John  Norton,  being 
present,  wept  bitterly  at  the  spectacle ;  but  as  for  them, 
they  wept  no  more:  God  wiped  away  all  tears  from  their 
eyes,  and  brought  them  into  his  own  presence,  with  ever- 
lasting gladness  and  joy. 


106  ARCHBISHOP    CRANMER. 


CHAPTER    VI. 


ARCHBISHOP   CRANMER. 


The  time  had  now  arrived,  when  the  highest  dignitary  of 
the  English  church  must  fall  a  prey — offered  up,  in  flames, 
to  the  insatiahle  Moloch  of  popery;  and  snatched  by  spe- 
cial grace,  even  at  the  last,  as  a  brand  from  unquenchable 
burning.  The  history  of  that  amiable  and  estimable  man, 
Thomas  Cranmer,  archbishop  of  Canterbury,  is  one  of  no 
ordinary  interest.  By  the  singular  providence  of  God,  he 
was  brought  from  the  retirement  of  private  life,  to  become 
one  of  the  most  conspicuous  characters  of  that  eventful 
period;  to  promote,  beyond  any  other  individual,  the  sacred 
cause  of  the  gospel  in  England ;  and  finally  after  a 
grievous  fall  to  rise  again,  and  stand  at  the  post  of  martyr- 
dom, a  witness  for  the  truth. 

Cranmer  was  of  a  good  and  ancient  family,  born  in  Not- 
tinghamshire ;  he  entered  at  Cambridge,  where,  prospering 
well  in  the  higher  orders  of  study,  he  was  chosen  fellow  of 
Jesus  College.  By  marrying,  however,  he  soon  forfeited 
his  fellowship,  and  became  reader  in  Buckingham  College. 
His  wife  dying  soon  afler,  he  was  re-elected  fellow,  by  his 
former  companions,  where  he  soon  attained  the  degree  of 
doctor  and  lecturer  in  divinity,  and  from  his  high  reputa- 
tion was  generally  chosen  one  of  the  heads,  whose  office  it 
was  to  examine  the  candidates  for  degrees,  either  admitting 
them,  or  suspending  the  admission  until  they  should  be  bet- 
ter furnished  with  learning.  Dr.  Cranmer,  early  impressed 
with  the  importance  of  scriptural  knowledge,  would  never 
admit  any  to  proceed  in  divinity,  until  they  were  thoroughly 
acquainted  with  the  Bible  history;  so  that  he  gave  much 
offence,  and  provoked  no  little  resentment  among  those 
whom  he  sent  back  to  study  this  neglected  branch.  Ne- 
vertheless, in  afler  time,  some  of  these  individuals  becoming 
famous  and  useful  to  the  church  through  their  scriptural 
knowledge,  were  in  the  habit  of  highly  extolling  Cranmer's 
firmness  in  this  point,  to  which  they  owed  all  their  attain- 
ments. When  Wolsey's  famous  college,  at  Oxford,  was 
in  progress,  Cranmer  was  greatly  solicited  to  accept  a  fel- 


ARCHBISHOP    CRANMER.  107 

lowship  in  it;  but  he  refused,  though  at  the  hazard  of  in- 
curring the  haughty  cardinal's  displeasure :  and  this  was 
the  first  evident  link  in  the  remarkable  chain  of  his  future 
eminence.  Remaining  at  Cambridge,  he  was  exposed  to 
the  dangers  of  the  plague,  which  broke  out  there;  and  hav- 
ing the  two  young  sons  of  a  Mr.  Cressy  under  his  charge, 
in  college,  he  took  them  home  to  their  father's  house,  at 
Waltham  Abbey,  from  the  peril  of  the  infection ;  himself 
remaining  there  as  a  guest. 

It  was  just  at  this  time  that  Henry  VIII.,  who  had  been 
for  two  or  three  years  agitating  the  subject  of  his  divorce 
among  the  canonists  and  learned  men,  found  himself  trifled 
with  by  the  two  cardinals,  Campeius  and  Wolsey,  who 
suddenly  closed  their  commission,  when  he  expected  an 
immediate  sentence,  pretending  that  it  was  not  allowable  to 
hold  courts  on  ecclesiastical  matters  during  harvest.  The 
king,  exasperated  at  this,  had  despatched  Campeius  back 
to  Rome,  and  in  very  bad  humour  left  London,  to  pass  a 
night  or  two  at  Waltham.  His  two  chief  helpers  in  the 
cause,  Stephen  Gardiner,  then  secretary,  and  Dr.  Fox, 
almoner,  accompanying  him,  were  lodged  in  the  house  of 
Mr.  Cressy,  where,  meeting  Dr.  Cranmer  at  supper,  the 
discourse  turned  upon  the  king's  business,  which  was  freely 
discussed  by  them,  being  old  college  acquaintances.  Cran- 
mer, on  his  opinion  being  asked,  said  he  had  not  studied 
the  matter,  but  it  seemed  to  him  they  were  taking  a  wrong 
course.  Instead  of  pursuing  the  case  in  ecclesiastical  courts, 
he  thought  the  better  way  would  have  been  simply  to  pro- 
pound the  question,  whether  a  man  may  marry  his  bro- 
ther's wife  or  no  ?  and  to  let  the  divines  discuss  it  by  the 
authority  of  the  word  of  God,  whereby  the  king's  conscience 
might  be  better  satisfied  than  by  these  uncertain  proceed- 
ings. He  spoke  much  of  the  certainty  that  Scripture  would 
declare  and  show  the  truth  ;  which  might  as  well  be  dis- 
covered in  England  as  at  Rome. 

The  next  day  Henry  removed  to  Greenwich,  and  being, 
as  usual,  very  restless  on  the  subject,  he  sent  for  his  two 
favourite  counsellors,  asking  them  what  he  should  now  do: 
whether  he  must  send  a  new  commission  to  Rome;  lament- 
ing the  impossibility  of  foreseeing  when  there  would  be  an 
end  of  it.  Dr.  Fox,  anxious  to  set  his  master's  mind  at 
rest,  told  him  there  was  a  hope  of  settling  it  with  less 
labour;  and  repeated  Cranmer's  advice.  Gardiner  showed 
no  little  vexation  at  this  honest  proceeding,  for  he  intended 


108  ARCHBISHOP    CRANMER. 

to  have  taken  the  credit  of  it  on  themselves,  and  endeavour- 
ed still  to  give  that  colour  to  the  affair,  but  the  impetuous 
mind  of  Henry  had  caught  what  he  rightly  judged  would 
be  a  clue  to  guide  him  out  of  the  labyrinth :  he  ordered 
that  Cranmer  should  forthwith  be  sent  for,  adding,  "  That 
man  hath  the  sow  by  the  right  ear;  and  if  I  had  known 
this  device  but  two  years  ago,  it  had  been  in  my  way  a 
great  piece  of  money,  and  had  also  rid  me  of  much  disqui- 
etness." 

Cranmer,  who  greatly  disliked  the  summons,  entreated 
his  friends  by  some  means  to  excuse  him  to  the  king,-  and 
they  strove  so  to  do;  but  Henry  scolded  and  insisted,  and 
showed  how  vain  it  was  to  oppose  his  despotic  will.  Cran- 
mer was  introduced,  and  Henry,  both  requesting  as  a  friend, 
and  commanding  as  a  king,  that  he  would  set  apart  all 
other  business  and  affairs  to  see  his  cause  furthered,  he  was 
obliged  to  assent,  suggesting,  however,  that  it  would  be  best 
to  commit  the  examination  of  the  matter  by  the  word  of 
God  to  the  principal  men  in  the  universities.  Henry  agreed 
to  this,  still  insisting  that  Cranmer  should  write  out  his  own 
mind  concerning  it.  He  then  called  the  earl  of  Wiltshire, 
giving  him  charge  to  entertain  Cranmer  in  his  house  for 
this  purpose ;  and  to  provide  him  with  books  and  all  other 
requisites.  This  was  done ;  Scripture,  general  councils, 
and  ancient  writers,  were  all  adduced  in  support  of  Cran- 
mer's  individual  opinion,  which  was  this — that  the  bishop 
of  Rome  had  no  such  authority  as  whereby  he  might  dis- 
pense with  the  word  of  God  and  the  Scripture, 

When  the  king  saw  this  book,  he  asked,  "Will  you  abide 
by  this  that  you  have  here  written,  before  the  bishop  of 
Rome  ?"  "  That  I  will  do,  by  God's  grace,"  replied  Dr. 
Cranmer,  "  if  your  majesty  do  send  me  thither."  Thus, 
by  his  means,  learned  men  having  been  sent  abroad  to  dis- 
cuss the  matter  in  foreign  universities,  it  was  also  solemnly 
disputed  in  Oxford  and  Cambridge ;  and  by  them  it  was 
concluded  that  no  such  matrimony  was,  by  the  word  of 
God,  lawful.  The  next  step  was  the  sending  of  an  embas- 
sage to  Rome,  consisting  of  the  earl  of  Wiltshire,  Cranmer, 
Stokesby,  Came,  Bennet,  and  other  learned  doctors  and 
gentlemen.  Such  a  mission  had  never  before  approached 
the  wearer  of  the  triple  crown :  such  a  blow  had  never  been 
aimed  at  his  authority.  Henry,  recently  the  pope's  cham- 
pion against  Luther,  had  laid  hold  on  the  weapon  beneath 
which  alone  the  mighty  power  of  the  papacy  crumbles  into 


ARCHBISHOP    CRANMEK.  109^ 

dust ;  and  little  did  the  selfish,  despotic  king  foresee  what 
consequences  would  ensue  from  this  daring  step,  of  send- 
ing to  inform  him  who  exalteth  himself  above  all  that  is 
called  God  and  is  worshipped,  that  the  word  of  inspiration 
was  of  higher  authority  than  the  thundered  dicta  of  his  in- 
fallibility! 

The  interview  with  the  pope  was  marked  by  an  incident 
which  Fox  records  with  much  glee,  as  ominous  of  what  was 
shortly  to  take  place  between  the  Romish  see  and  England. 
When  they  came  into  the  presence,  the  bishop  of  Rome, 
seated  on  high  in  his  cloth  of  estate,  richly  apparelled,  of- 
fered his  sandaled  foot  to  be  kissed  by  the  ambassadors. 
The  earl  of  Wiltshire,  not  choosing  so  to  degrade  himself, 
stood  still,  and  the  rest  followed  their  leader's  example.  It 
happened  that  the  earl  had  brought  with  him  a  favourite 
spaniel  of  a  large  breed,  which  accompanied  him  on  this 
occasion,  and  he,  being  somewhat  in  advance  of  his  mas- 
ter when  the  pope's  foot  was  graciously  put  forth,  took  the 
liberty  of  applying  thereto  not  only  his  nose  but  his  teeth, 
and  pinched  the  pontifical  great  toe,  so  smartly,  that  his 
holiness  lost  no  time  in  drawing  it  in  from  the  sacrilegious 
salute  ;  and  while  the  ambassadors  smiled  in  their  sleeves 
at  the  incident,  he  tacitly  dispensed  with  any  further  cere- 
mony of  that  sort,  and  gave  ear  at  once  to  their  message. 
Strange  to  say,  no  direct  opposition  was  offered  to  their 
plea  against  his  authority  for  dispensing  with  the  precepts 
of  God's  word;  and  after  divers  promises,  and  frequently 
appointing  days  for  debating  the  question,  he  sent  them 
away  complimented  and  uncontradicted. 

The  rest  returning  to  England,  Cranmer  went  to  the  em- 
peror's court,  to  make  good  his  argument,  even  in  presence 
of  queen  Katharine's  nephew,  and  succeeded  in  silencing 
all  his  doctors.  On  his  return  home,  Warham's  death  left 
the  see  of  Canterbury  vacant;  and  Henry  justly  conferred 
the  dignity  on  the  best  friend  and  ablest  advocate  he  had 
ever  found  within  his  realm.  In  this  high  pastoral  charge, 
Cranmer  so  deported  himself  as  to  answer  St.  Paul's  de- 
scription of  a  bishop;  while  his  fulfilment  of  the  duties  an- 
nexed to  it,  as  a  great  office  of  state,  was  admirably  cor- 
rect. So  forgiving  was  he,  and  so  careful  to  return  good 
for  evil,  that  it  became  a  common  saying,  "  Do  my  lord  of 
Canterbury  an  ill  turn,  and  you  may  be  sure  to  have  him 
your  friend  while  he  liveth."  His  personal  character  was, 
indeed,  most  lovely,  the  qualities  of  his  mind  rare,  his  ac- 

MARTYROLOGY. VOL.  11,  10 


110  ARCHBISHOP   CRANMER. 

quirements  singularly  great,  and  his  integrity,  fidelity,  and 
disinterestedness  in  the  service  of  his  king,  such  as  even 
the  caprice  of  that  suspicious  tyrant  could  never  call  in 
question.  Indeed  the  attempts  that  were  frequently  made 
to  shake  his  confidence  in  Cranmer,  only  served  to  show 
how  fixed  it  was.  The  Lord  doubtless  gave  him  this  favour 
in  the  king's  eyes,  that  he  might  the  better  fulfil  his  ap- 
pointed task  of  building  up  again  the  prostrate  church  of 
Christ.  His  opposition  to  the  enactment  of  the  flagitious 
Six  Articles,  proved  a  great  trial  of  Henry's  friendship  for 
the  archbishop :  Stephen  Gardiner,  his  secret  and  most  im- 
placable enemy,  continually  practised  against  him ;  and  on 
one  occasion  so  far  prevailed,  by  means  of  his  emissaries 
who  abused  the  king's  ear  with  tales  that  Cranmer  and 
his  chaplains  by  their  preaching  were  filling  the  whole 
realm  with  pernicious  heresies,  that  Henry  allowed  them 
to  commit  him  to  the  tower,  and  to  proceed  so  far  as  to 
make  their  envious  malice  fully  apparent ;  but  he  had  taken 
care,  by  privately  instructing  Cranmer  how  to  proceed, 
and  giving  him  his  ring  to  produce  at  the  proper  moment, 
to  ensure  him  a  triumphant  deliverance  from  their  toils. 
So  openly  was  the  shield  of  royal  favour  thrown  over  this 
upright  prelate,  that  it  soon  became  a  hopeless  task  to  as- 
sail him:  for  whosoever  slandered  the  archbishop  of  Can- 
terbury was  sure  to  receive  some  of  the  king's  pungent  re- 
bukes, accompanied  with  menaces  that  no  one  liked  to  pro- 
voke at  the  hands  of  such  a  monarch.  Such  was  Henry's 
affection  for  Cranmer,  that  he  even  connived  at  his  living 
in  the  state  of  wedlock,  notwithstanding  the  Six  Articles; 
and  faithfully  kept  the  secret. 

When  Edward  ascended  the  throne,  Cranmer  who  had 
recently  been  convinced  through  Ridley's  means,  of  the 
true  doctrine  of  the  sacrament,  on  which  he  never  till  then 
had  been  rightly  persuaded,  wrote  five  books  on  the  sub- 
ject, for  public  instruction,  wherein  he  overthrows  the  cor- 
poreal presence,  transubstantiation,  adoration,  the  receiving 
of  Christ's  body  by  the  ungodly,  and  the  blasphemous  sa- 
crifice of  the  mass.  Stephen  Gardiner,  then  at  leisure  in 
the  tower  of  London,  took  on  himself  to  answer  this  publi- 
cation, to  whose  sophistical  work  Cranmer  again  learnedly 
and  copiously  replied.  This  did  not  silence  Gardiner,  who 
wrote  another  book,  which  Cranmer  was  employed  in  con- 
futing, during  his  subsequent  imprisonment  in  Oxford.  Rid- 
ley also,  being  deprived  of  pen,  ink  and  paper,  broke  a 


ARCHBISHOP    CRANMER.  Ill 

piece  of  lead  from  the  frame  of  his  prison  window,  and 
wrote  with  it  his  annotations  on  the  margin  of  the  book,  in 
refutation  of  its  falsehoods. 

Cranmer  also  wrote  a  work  on  the  Reformation,  the  cate- 
chism of  the  church  of  England,  and  great  part  of  the  book 
of  homilies,  with  other  works.  His  share  of  the  compila- 
tion of  the  common-prayer,  with  the  thirty-nine  articles,  is 
well  known:  and,  as  under  his  tuition  the  character  of  Ed- 
ward was  formed,  so  by  his  influence  and  direction  was  the 
glorious  work  of  the  reformation  in  England  achieved.  It 
was  Cranmer  who  first  dared  to  assert  that  the  bishop  of 
Rome  had  no  authority  to  set  aside  God's  commandments : 
it  was  under  Cranmer's  guidance  that  Henry  flung  from 
the  neck  of  his  country,  the  yoke  of  popish  supremacy: 
and  it  was  by  Cranmer's  hand  that  God  established  his 
pure  worship  in  the  place  of  her  ancient  idolatrous  abomi- 
nations. Neither  was  the  prosperous  course  of  events  in 
Elizabeth's  reign  uninfluenced  by  this  extraordinary  man : 
he  was  the  friend  and  counsellor  of  her  early  years  ;  and 
doubtless  was  commissioned  to  sow  the  seed  which  yielded 
such  precious  fruit  to  the  famished  and  scattered  flock  of 
Christ,  during  her  long  and  glorious  sovereignty. 

One  sore  blot  is  indeed  found  on  the  fair  page  of  this 
record  of  Cranmer's  prosperous  days.  The  manner  in 
which  he  perverted  his  power  over  the  youthful  mind  of 
Edward,  to  force  upon  that  gentle  king  the  stain  of  blood- 
guiltiness,  in  the  case  of  the  poor  foolish  Kentish  girl,  can- 
not, nor  ought  to  be  forgotten.  It  was  a  fearful  crime,  un- 
speakably aggravated  by  the  degree  of  light  that  Cranmer 
possessed,  and  the  high  responsibilities  with  which  he  was 
invested.  If  none  among  the  pastors  of  the  awakened 
church  soared  so  high  as  Cranmer,  none  fell  so  low:  and 
the  eye  that  is  uplifted  to  gaze  upon  the  spectacle  of  this 
exalted  character,  can  but  sink  again  to  earth,  under  the 
sad  exemplification  of  that  truth,  "  There  is  none  righteous ; 
no,  not  one." 

In  the  matter  of  Mary's  succession,  the  archbishop 
showed  a  scrupulous  regard  to  his  oath,  and  a  tenderness 
of  conscience  that  no  other  of  the  council  displayed.  They 
had  all  sworn  to  her  title,  as  rightful  heir  of  the  crown,  yet 
he  alone  refused  subscription  to  Edward's  appointment  of 
the  Lady  Jane  as  his  successor,  and  it  was  not  until  he  had 
conferred  with  the  lawyers,  and  received  their  unanimous 
assent  to  the  lawfulness  of  the  thing,  that,  with  much  re- 


112  ARCHBISHOP    CRANMER. 

luctance,  he  at  length  subscribed :  and  he  alone,  of  all  the 
nobles,  could  obtain  no  pardon  of  Mary  for  so  doing.  She, 
of  course,  remembered  the  part  he  had  taken  in  forwarding 
her  mother's  divorce,  and  in  changing  the  religion  of  the 
realm;  and  anxiously  watched  for  an  opportunity  of  de- 
stroying him.  This  was  soon  found.  A  report  being  spread 
abroad  that  Cranmer,  to  conciliate  the  queen,  had  offered 
to  say  a  dirge  mass  for  king  Edward's  soul,  he  lost  no 
time  in  writing  a  full  contradiction  of  the  calumny,  and 
left  the  paper  open  on  the  window  of  his  chamber.  Story, 
bishop  of  Rochester,  coming  in,  read  it,  and  desired  a  copy, 
which  was  given  to  him;  and  in  a  very  short  time,  almost 
all  the  scriveners  in  London  were  occupied  in  transcribing 
this  bill,  which  was  in  great  request  among  the  people. 

This  soon  came  to  the  knowledge  of  the  queen's  coun- 
cil, who  forthwith  issued  a  summons  for  the  archbishop  to 
appear  before  them,  bringing  an  inventory  of  all  his  goods. 
He  did  so,  and  when  they  had  received  it,  a  bishop  ques- 
tioned him  as  to  this  bill  of  his,  in  which  he  seemed  to  be 
aggrieved  with  the  setting  up  the  mass  again ;  adding  that 
of  course  he  was  sorry  that  it  had  gone  abroad.  Cranmer 
answered,  "As  I  do  not  deny  myself  to  be  the  very  author 
of  that  bill  or  letter,  so  must  I  confess  here  unto  you  con- 
cerning the  same  bill,  that  I  am  sorry  the  said  bill  went 
from  me  in  such  sort  as  it  did.  For  when  I  had  written  it, 
Mr.  Story  got  the  copy  of  me,  and  it  is  now  come  abroad, 
and,  as  I  understand,  the  city  is  full  of  it.  For  which  I  am 
sorry  that  it  so  passed  my  hands :  for  I  had  intended  other- 
wise to  have  made  it  in  a  more  large  and  ample  manner, 
and  minded  to  have  set  it  on  Paul's  church-door,  and  on 
the  doors  of  all  the  churches  in  London,  with  mine  own 
seal  joined  thereto." 

The  lords,  not  knowing  what  to  say  to  this  bold  avowal, 
dismissed  him,  promising  he  should  soon  hear  further;  and 
so  he  did ;  for  he  was  shortly  afterwards  committed  to  the 
tower  on  a  charge  of  treason.  But  as  all  the  rest  were 
pardoned,  it  would  not  do  to  maintain  the  indictment  against 
him  alone,  who  was  known  to  have  subscribed  last,  and 
with  the  greatest  repugnance,  to  Edward's  paper :  so  they 
dropped  the  treason,  and  retained  him  on  a  charge  of  here- 
sy, sending  him  speedily  afterwards  to  Oxford,  to  dispute 
with  the  divines  there,  that  under  some  show  of  fair  discus- 
sion, the  intended  murder  might  be  veiled.  What  occurred 
there,  has  already  been  related.     The  first  condemnation 


ARCHBISHOP    CRANMER.  llS 

of  the  three  prelates  having  been  invalid,  as  the  pope's 
authority  had  not  yet  been  formally  recognized  again  in 
the  land,  a  new  commission  was  sent  from  Rome ;  and 
Brooks,  bishop  of  Gloucester,  had  the  honour  of  represent- 
in  o-  the  pope  on  this  occasion,  being  perched  on  a  scaflbld 
ten  feet  high,  seated  in  great  state  just  under  the  little  idol 
wafer  which  hung  in  its  box  over  the  altar.  On  his  right 
and  left,  at  a  proper  distance  below  the  chief  actor,  sat  doc- 
tor Martin  and  doctor  Story;  and  under  them  a  number  of 
officials  and  others. 

All  being  prepared,  the  bishops  in  their  pontificals,  the 
archbishop  of  Canterbury  was  sent  for  to  appear  before 
them.  He  came  from  his  prison  to  St.  Mary's  church, 
guarded  with  bills  and  other  weapons,  habited  in  his  gown 
and  hood,  and  entering  their  presence,  neither  moved  his 
cap,  nor  took  any  other  notice  of  them,  but  stood  still.  One 
of  them  then  called,  "  Thomas,  archbishop  of  Canterbury, 
appear  here,  and  make  answer  to  that  shall  be  laid  to  thy 
charge,  that  is  to  say,  for  blasphemy,  incontinency,  and 
heresy;  and  make  answer  here  to  the  bishop  of  Gloucester, 
representing  the  pope's  person."  He  then  advanced,  qui- 
etly viewing  the  whole  array,  until  espying  whei'e  the  king's 
and  queen's  proctors  sat,  he  bowed  his  knee  to  the  ground, 
and  putting  off  his  cap,  made  reverence  to  each  of  them  : 
then  looking  the  pope's  proxy  full  in  the  face,  he  delibe- 
rately put  it  on  again ;  showing  him  no  token  whatever  of 
recognition  or  respect.  This  highly  offended  the  bishop, 
who  said  to  him  that  it  might  well  beseem  him,  weighing 
the  authority  that  he  represented,  to  do  his  duty  unto  him : 
but  Cranmer  answered,  that  he  had  once  taken  a  solemn 
oath  never  to  consent  to  the  admitting  of  the  bishop  of 
Rome's  authority  into  this  realm  of  England  again ;  and 
that  he  had  done  it  advisedly,  and  meant,  by  God's  grace 
to  keep  it ;  and  therefore  would  commit  nothing  either  by 
sign  or  token,  which  might  argue  his  consent  to  the  receiv- 
ing of  the  same:  and  so  he  desired  the  bishop  to  judge  of 
him,  and  that  he  did  it  not  for  any  contempt  of  his  person, 
which  he  could  have  been  content  to  have  honoured  as 
well  as  any  of  the  other,  if  his  commission  had  come  from 
as  good  an  authority  as  theirs.  This  he  said  modestly  and 
quietly,  standing  covered,  never  once  bowing  or  moving  so 
as  to  betoken  any  respect  for  the  pope's  representative :  and 
this  was  especially  noticed  by  all  the  people,  who  pressed 
as  near  as  possible  to  observe  his  deportment. 

10* 


114  ARCHBISHOP    CRANMER. 

Then  proceeded  bishop  Brooks  to  make  an  oration,  ac- 
cusing Cranmer  of  apostasy  from  the  church,  treason 
against  the  queen,  and  adultery,  in  that  he  had  married. 
He  traced  his  fall  to  the  great  sin  of  schism,  in  forsaking 
his  allegiance  to  the  pope.  God,  he  said,  then  forsook  him, 
allowing  him  to  fall  "  from  schism  to  apostasy,  from  apos- 
tasy to  heresy,  from  heresy  to  perjury,  from  perjury  to 
treason,  and  so  in  conclusion  into  the  full  indignation  of 
our  sovereign  prince,  which  you  may  think  a  just  punish- 
ment of  God,  for  your  other  abominable  opinions."  The 
speech  was  very  long,  but  none  of  it  worth  a  repetition  ; 
and  when  he  sat  down  Dr.  Martin  began  to  plead,  in  tech- 
nical phrases,  stating  to  Cranmer  that  they  had  reported 
his  case  to  the  pope,  who  had  graciously  decreed  that 
though  of  late  time  he  had  excluded  both  justice  and  chari- 
ty, yet  his  holiness  would  have  both  charity  and  justice 
shown  him;  and  had  therefore  appointed  the  bishop  of 
Gloucester  his  high  commissioner,  before  whom  the  arch- 
bishop was  to  answer  the  articles  of  accusation;  he,  Mar- 
tin, with  Dr.  Story,  attending  on  behalf  of  their  majesties, 
to  accuse  him. 

When  this  speech  was  ended,  the  archbishop  having 
leave  to  reply,  first  repeated  the  Lord's  prayer,  kneeling; 
then  stood  up  and  recited  the  apostles'  creed;  and  thus 
spoke,  "  This  I  do  profess,  as  touching  my  faith,  and  make 
my  protestation,  which  I  desire  you  to  note :  I  will  never 
consent  that  the  bishop  of  Rome  shall  have  any  jurisdiction 
within  this  realm."  "  Take  a  note  thereof,"  cries  Story; 
while  Martin  said,  "  Mark,  Mr.  Cranmer,  how  you  an- 
swer for  yourself.  You  refuse  and  deny  him  by  whose 
laws  ye  do  remain  in  life ;  being  otherwise  attainted  of 
high  treason,  and  but  a  dead  man  by  the  laws  of  the 
realm."  Cranmer  protested  before  God  that  he  was  no 
traitor,  adding,  he  had  confessed  more  at  his  arraignment 
than  was  true.  Martin  repeated  his  assertion,  and  bade 
him  proceed.  Cranmer  then  went  on,  "  I  will  never  con- 
sent to  the  bishop  of  Rome ;  for  then  should  I  give  myself 
to  the  devil;  for  I  have  made  an  oath  to  the  king,  and  I 
must  obey  the  king  by  God's  laws.  By  the  Scripture  the 
king  is  chief,  and  need  no  foreign  person  in  his  own  realm 
above  him.  There  is  no  subject  but  to  a  king.  I  am  a 
subject ;  I  owe  my  fidelity  to  the  crown.  The  pope  is  con- 
trary to  the  crown.  I  cannot  obey  both  ;  for  no  man  can 
serve  two  masters  at  once,  as  you  in  the  beginning  of  your 


ARCHBISHOP    CRANMER.  115 

oration  declared  of  the  sword  and  the  keys,  attributing  the 
keys  to  the  pope,  and  the  sword  to  the  king;  but  I  say  the 
king  hath  both."  He  proceeded  in  the  same  concise,  point- 
ed, energetic  strain  to  show  how  contrary  the  pope's  laws 
are  both  to  the  laws  of  England  and  of  God.  He  defended 
the  orthodox  faith  of  the  sacrament  in  the  same  manner, 
continuing  thus,  "  Christ  commanded  all  to  drink  of  the 
cup;  the  pope  taketh  it  away  from  the  laymen,  and  yet 
one  saith  that  if  Christ  had  died  for  the  devil  that  he  should 
drink  thereof.  Christ  biddeth  us  to  obey  the  king;  the 
bishop  of  Rome  biddeth  us  to  obey  him:  therefore,  unless  he 
be  antichrist,  I  cannot  tell  what  to  make  of  him.  Where- 
fore, if  I  should  obey  him,  I  cannot  obey  Christ.  He  is 
like  the  devil  in  his  doings;  for  the  devil  said  to  Christ,  '  If 
thou  wilt  fall  down  and  worship  me,  I  will  give  thee  all  the 
kingdoms  of  the  world."  Thus  he  took  upon  him  to  give 
that  which  was  not  his  own.  Even  so,  the  bishop  of  Rome 
giveth  princes  their  crowns,  being  none  of  his  own ;  for 
where  princes  either  by  election,  by  succession,  or  by  in- 
heritance obtain  their  crown,  he  saith  that  they  should 
have  it  from  him.  Christ  saith  that  antichrist  shall  be. 
And  who  shall  he  be  ?  Forsooth  he  that  advanceth  him- 
self above  all  other  creatures.  Now  if  there  be  none  al- 
ready that  hath  advanced  himself  after  such  sort  besides 
the  pope,  then  in  the  mean  time  let  him  be  antichrist." 

"  Pleaseth  it  you  to  make  an  end  ?"  interrupted  Dr. 
Story.  Cranmer  went  on  :  "  For  he  will  be  the  vicar  of 
Christ,  he  will  dispense  with  the  old  and  new  testament 
also ;  yea,  and  with  apostasy."  He  then  disavowed  all 
personal  ill-will  to  the  reigning  bishop  of  Rome ;  and  said 
he  spoke  not  so  for  his  defence,  but  to  declare  his  con- 
science for  the  zeal  that  he  bore  to  God's  word,  trodden 
under  foot  by  the  bishop  of  Rome.  He  quoted  our  Lord's 
testimony,  as  to  what  would  be  the  lot  of  his  faithful  ser- 
vants in  persecuting  times;  and  set  forth  again  the  utter 
illegality  of  the  pope's  interference  in  this  land,  requiring 
the  king's  and  queen's  proctors  to  make  known  to  their 
majesties  what  he  had  said.  Then,  addressing  Gloucester 
in  his  high  place,  he  went  on,  "  And  you,  for  your  part, 
my  lord,  are  perjured;  for  now  ye  sit  judge  for  the  pope, 
and  yet  you  did  receive  your  bishopric  of  the  king.  You 
have  taken  an  oath  to  be  adversary  to  the  realm  :  for  the 
pope's  laws  are  contrary  to  the  laws  of  the  realm."  Glou- 
cester retorted,  "  You  were  the  cause  that  I  did  forsake  the 


116  ARCHBISHOP    CRANMEK. 

pope,  and  did  swear  that  he  ought  not  to  be  supreme  head, 
and  gave  it  to  king  Henry  the  eighth,  that  he  ought  to  be 
it ;  and  this  you  made  me  to  do."  To  this  Cranmer  replied, 
that  the  question  was  settled  three  quarters  of  a  year  be- 
fore he  had  the  archbishopric,  in  the  time  of  his  predeces- 
sor VVarham;  so  that  he  had  nothing  to  do  with  influencing 
Brooks,  who,  as  a  doctor  of  divinity,  had  signed  his  assent 
to  the  giving  of  the  supremacy  to  Henry,  along  with  the 
other  learned  divines  of  Oxford  and  Cambridge ;  "  so  that 
here  ye  have  reported  of  me  that  which  ye  cannot  prove, 
which  is  evil  done,"  continued  the  intrepid  metropolitan, 
still  standing  erect  before  them,  with  his  cap  on  his  head. 

Gloucester  now  remarked,  "  We  come  to  examine  ypu ; 
and  you,  methinks,  examine  us."  Then  Story  commenced 
an  oration,  the  purport  of  which  was  to  express  his  regret 
that  Cranmer  had  laeen  allowed  to  talk  so  much,  to  rail  at 
him,  and  to  demand  that  he  should  directly  be  compelled 
to  answer  to  the  articles  they  were  about  to  lay  against 
him.  Martin  undertook  the  office  of  examiner,  whose  chief 
object  it  was  to  exhibit  Cranmer  as  having  been  a  zealous 
Romanist  in  former  days,  and  to  implicate  him  in  Henry's 
proceedings  against  Lambert.  He  then  assailed  the  arch- 
bishop with  some  intricate  queries  respecting  the  temporal 
head  of  the  church  ;  but  through  the  unfairness  of  the  scribe 
who  took  down  the  examination,  Cranmer's  answers  are 
not  intelligibly  given.  Then  followed  the  interrogatories, 
to  the  number  of  sixteen,  of  the  choice  style  of  which  the 
first  is  a  specimen.  "  That  he,  the  aforesaid  Thomas 
Cranmer,  being  yet  free,  and  before  he  entered  into  holy 
orders,  married  one  Joan,  surnamed  Black  or  Brown,  dwell- 
ing at  the  sign  of  the  dolphin  in  Cambridge."  He  answered, 
that  whether  she  was  called  Black  or  Brown  he  knew  not ; 
but  that  he  married  there  one  Joan,  that  he  granted.  All 
the  articles  were  in  the  same  impertinent  and  vulgar  style; 
his  answers  all  concise,  and  confirmatory  of  his  doctrine. 
The  notary  having  entered  them,  the  judges  were  about  to 
rise  and  depart,  but  Gloucester  seeing  the  people  somewhat 
moved  with  the  words  of  the  archbishop,  pronounced  an- 
other very  long  harangue,  setting  forth  the  greatness  of  his 
heresy  and  sin ;  ending  in  these  terms.  "  Thus  much  have 
I  said,  not  for  you,  Mr.  Cranmer,  for  my  hope  that  I  con- 
ceived of  you  is  now  gone  and  past ;  but  somewhat  to 
satisfy  the  rude  and  unlearned  people,  that  they,  perceiv- 
ing your  arrogant  lying,  and  lying  arrogancy,  may  the 


ARCHBISHOP    CRANMER.  117 

better  eschew  your  detestable  and  abominable  schism."  In 
conclusion,  they  appointed  eight  witnesses  to  depose  what 
they  knew  against  the  archbishop,  calling  on  him  to  say  if 
he  had  an  objection  to  any  one  of  them.  He  refused  them 
all,  as  being  perjured  men,  and  not  Christian  in  their  reli- 
gion ;  but  this  was  not  regarded.  On  going  out,  Cranmer, 
as  before,  made  low  obeisance  to  the  queen's  commission- 
ers, Martin  and  Story,  whereat  the  latter,  pointing  to  the 
bishop  of  Gloucester,  said  that  he  ought  rather  to  give  rev- 
erence unto  him ;  but  the  archbishop  departed  without  taking 
any  notice  of  the  pope's  representative. 

After  this,  he  was  cited  to  appear  at  Rome,  within  eighty 
days,  and  answer  for  himself;  which  he  said  he  would  do, 
if  it  pleased  the  king  and  queen  to  send  him  there ;  but 
before  the  fourth  part  of  that  time  had  expired,  their  majes- 
ties received  the  pope's  commands  to  degrade  him.  Being 
also  kept  in  close  confinement,  with  no  means  of  leaving 
it,  he  was,  of  course,  prevented  from  answering  the  cita- 
tion, yet  his  non-appearance  at  Rome  was  pronounced  con- 
tumacious, and  for  such  contempt  of  the  pope's  authority, 
he  was  condemned  to  suffer  death.  Thurlby,  bishop  of 
Ely,  was  chosen  to  sit  on  this  new  commission:  he  had 
been  the  beloved  and  cherished  friend  of  Cranmer,  whose 
palace  had  ever  been  open  to  him,  and  whose  bounty  he 
had  most  largely  received  ;  and  with  hirn  was  joined  Bon- 
ner himself.  These  two  delegates  appeared  in  Oxford  on 
the  14th  of  February,  in  Christ's  church,  sitting  in  pontifi- 
cal state,  where  they  opened  their  commission,  setting  forth 
how  that  the  accused  had  wanted  nothing  appertaining  to  his 
necessary  defence  ;  on  hearing  which  Cranmer  exclaimed, 
"  O  Lord,  what  lies  be  these!  that  I  being  continually  in 
prison,  and  never  could  be  suffered  to  have  counsel  or  ad- 
vocate at  home,  should  produce  witnesses,  and  appoint  my 
counsel  at  Rome !  God  must  needs  punish  this  open  and 
shameless  lying."  They,  however,  read  to  an  end,  and 
then  proceeded  to  degrade  him.  When  he  was  robed  and 
garnished  as  a  priest,  "  What!"  said  he,  "  I  think  I  shall 
say  mass."  "  Yea,"  replied  Cosins,  "  My  Lord,  I  trust 
to  see  you  say  mass  for  all  this."  "  Do  you  so?"  returned 
Cranmer,  "  that  shall  you  never  see,  nor  will  I  ever  do  it." 

Then  were  added  to  these  garments  all  manner  of  robes, 
of  a  bishop  and  archbishop,  as  he  appears  at  his  installa- 
tion; saving  that  as  every  thing  then  is  most  rich  and  costly, 
so  on  the  present  occasion,  all  was  formed  of  canvas  and 


118  ARCHBISHOP    CBANMER. 

old  rags.  A  mitre  and  pall  of  the  same  materials  were 
then  put  upon  him ;  and  in  his  hand  the  crosier  stafT.  Bon- 
ner, who  of  a  long  time  had  hated  the  archbishop,  and  to 
whose  malignant  spirit  this  spectacle  of  mockery  was  a 
choice  regale,  now  stretched  out  his  hand  towards  the  ven- 
erable and  dignified  object  of  their  antichristian  cruelty,  and 
spoke  as  follows  :  "  This  is  the  man  that  hath  ever  despised 
the  pope's  holiness,  and  now  is  to  be  judged  by  him.  This 
is  the  man  that  hath  pulled  down  so  many  churches,  and 
now  is  come  to  be  judged  in  a  church.  This  is  the  man 
that  contemned  the  blessed  sacrament  of  the  altar,  and  now 
is  come  to  be  condemned  before  that  blessed  sacrament 
hanging  over  the  altar.  This  is  the  man  that  like  Lucifer 
sat  in  the  place  of  Christ,  upon  an  altar  to  judge  other,  and 
now  is  come  before  an  altar  to  be  judged  himself"  Here 
the  archbishop  interrupted  him,  saying,  that  in  that  he  be- 
lied him  ;  for  if,  on  the  occasion  to  which  he  alluded,  when 
a  scaffolding  was  erected  for  him  and  some  others,  to  sit  in 
commission  in  Paul's  church,  there  was  any  altar  under  it, 
he  neither  knew  nor  suspected  it.  But  Bonner  went  on,  in 
his  usual  strain  of  low  scurrility,  reviling  him;  commen- 
cing each  sentence  with  "This  is  the  man;"  until  every 
person  present  was  weary  and  disgusted  with  his  ruffian- 
ism. Thurlby  repeatedly  pulled  him  by  the  sleeve  to  stop 
him,  and  afterwards  reproached  him  with  breach  of  pro- 
mise; for  he  had  entreated  him  earnestly  to  use  him  with 
reverence. 

Bonner  having  ended  his  scoffs,  they  proceeded  to  the 
degradation,  the  first  act  of  which  was  to  take  away  the 
crosier;  which  he  held  fast,  refusing  to  deliver  it  up;  and 
following  the  example  of  Martin  Luther,  drew  from  his 
left  sleeve  a  formal  appellation,  which  he  put  into  their 
hands,  saying,  "  I  appeal  to  the  next  general  council ;  and 
herein  I  have  comprehended  my  cause  and  form  of  it, 
which  I  desire  may  be  admitted."  He  then  called  on  the 
bystanders  to  be  witnesses  that  he  had  so  appealed.  The 
bishop  of  Ely  at  first  refused  to  receive  the  paper,  saying 
that  their  commission  was  to  proceed  against  him :  but 
when  Cranmer  reminded  him  that  the  matter  was  immedi- 
ately between  him  and  the  pope,  and  that  no  man  ought  to 
be  a  judge  in  his  own  cause,  Ely  took  the  paper,  saying 
that  if  it  might  be  admitted  it  should.  He  then  implored 
Cranmer  to  consider  his  state ;  and  referring  to  the  part  he 
was  himself  acting,  and  to  the  great  love  and  friendship 


ARCHBISHOP    CRANMER.  119 

that  had  been  between  them,  he  wept  so  bitterly  that  for  a 
long  while  he  could  not  proceed.     After  recovering  a  little 
composure,  he  stepped  forward,  and  solemnly  declared  that 
if  it  had  not  been  for  the  royal  commandment,  which  he 
could  not  disobey,  no  earthly  gain  should  have  induced 
him  to  have  done  it :  protesting   it  was  the  saddest  thing 
that  ever  happened  to  him.     It  is  very  probable  that  the 
brutal  conduct  of  Bonner  had  roused  for  the  moment  some 
better  feeling  on  the  part  of  his  fellow-persecutor.    The 
archbishop  kindly  comforted  his  friend  with  much  gentle- 
ness ;  saying  he  was  very  well  content :  so  they  proceeded 
in  their  silly  ceremonies.    When  they  attempted  to  remove 
the  pall,  which  is  the  solemn  and  exclusive  vesture  of  an 
archbishop,  Cranmer  asked,  "  Which  of  you  hath  a  pall, 
to  take  off  my  pall?"  implying  that  they,  being  of  an  infe- 
rior order,  could  not  degrade  him.     One  of  them  replied, 
that  as  bishops  they  were  indeed  below  his  order,  and  could 
not  do  it;  but  as  the  pope's  delegates,  they  might  take  his 
pall,  which  they  did.    Then  a  barber  clipped  his  hair  round 
about,  and  the  bishops  scraped  the  tops  of  his  fingers,  where 
he  had  been  anointed:  Bonner  indulging  his  usual  savage 
disposition,  by  paining  him  as  much  as  he  could ;  while 
Ely  was  soft  and  gentle  as  possible.     The  archbishop,  in 
the  midst  of  their  fooleries,  remarked,  "All  this  needed 
not ;  I  had  myself  done  with  this  gear  long  ago."     They 
ended  by  stripping  him  of  his  own  gown,  to  his  jacket,  and 
putting  on  him  a  poor  beadle's  old  thread- bare  gown,  with 
a  townsman's  cap  on  his  head.    Then  Bonner  exulting- 
ly  cried  out,  "  Now  you  are  no  lord  any  more  !"  and  in  his 
repeated  bursts  of  spite,  which  continued  till  they  departed, 
he  spoke  of  him  as,  "  This  gentleman  here,"  and  so  forth. 
When  the  captive  was  led  back  to  his  prison,  habited  in 
so  unseemly  a  fashion,  every  spectator  was  moved  to  pity; 
and  an  incident  occurred  which  proves  to  what  utter  desti- 
tution he  was  reduced.     A  gentleman  of  Gloucestershire 
had  taken  charge  of  the  archbishop's  gown;  and  now  car- 
rying it  along,  entered  into  conversation  with  him,  remark- 
ing that  the  bishop  of  Ely  had  protested  his  friendship  with 
tears ;  to  which  Cranmer  replied,  that  he  might  have  used 
a  great  deal  more  friendship  towards  him,  and  never  have 
been  the  worse  thought  on;  for  he  had  well  deserved  it. 
When  they  reached  the  prison  the  gentleman  asked  him  to 
drink:  he  answered,  that  if  he  had  a  piece  of  salt  fish  he 
had  better  will  to  eat ;  for  that  he  had  been  that  day  some- 


120  ARCHBISHOP    CRANMER. 

what  troubled  with  that  matter,  and  had  eaten  little ;  "  but 
now  that  it  is  past,"  added  he,  "  my  heart  is  well  quieted.'' 
It  was  a  fact  that  this  man,  the  highest  dignitary  of  the 
church  in  England,  whose  liberality  had  been  renowned 
through  the  whole   realm,  and  whose  influence  was  such 
that  not  only  the  gentle  Edward  but  the  fierce  and  untrac- 
table  Henry  could  deny  him  nothing ;  this  good  and  vene- 
rable archbishop  had  been  so  persecuted  for  Christ's  sake, 
that  he  had  not  at  his  command  a  single  penny  whei'ewith 
to  purchase  a  morsel  to  appease  his  hunger.     The  gentle- 
man told  him  he  would,  with  all  his  heart  give  him  some 
money;  but  suddenly  recollecting  the  case  of  a  man  named 
Farmer,  who  had  lately  been  stripped  of  all  his  possessions 
for  showing  compassion  to  a  prisoner  similarly  situated,  he 
dared  not  relieve  him  in  a  direct  way,  but  gave  money  to 
the  bailiffs  standing  by,  and  said,  if  they  were  good  men, 
they  would  bestow  it  on  him :  and  so  left  him,  the  arch- 
bishop earnestly  bidding  him  farewell,  commending  him- 
self to  his  prayers,  and  those  of  his  friends.     That  very 
night  was  the  gentleman  arrested  by  command  of  Bonner 
and  Ely;  and  had  not  powerful  interest  been  exerted  on  his 
behalf,  he  would  have  been  sent  up  before  the  council,  to 
be  dealt  with  as  a  favourer  of  heresy. 

We  now  come  to  the  most  painful  event  that  has  yet 
been  recorded.  Cranmer  had  been  the  first  to  move  the 
overthrow  of  the  pope's  usui'ped  dominion  in  England ;  he 
had  stood  forth  as  chief  standard-bearer  throughout  the 
reformation,  and  had  hitherto  presented  an  undaunted  front 
of  opposition  to  the  antichristian  proceedings  of  Mary's 
reign.  The  fall  of  such  a  man  from  his  steadfastness  would 
afford  so  great  a  triumph  to  the  enemies  of  Christ,  inflict 
such  a  blow  upon  his  cause,  and  so  dishearten  its  uphold- 
ers, that  all  the  craft  and  subtlety  of  the  devil  and  man  was 
sure  to  work  against  him  to  this  end.  He  had  been  in 
prison  now  three  years,  without  giving  them  a  hope  of 
turning  him  away  from  the  truth ;  and  they  pursued  the 
wisest  plan  in  making  their  last  assault  on  bis  constancy. 
They  took  him  from  his  place  of  confinement,  lodged  him 
in  tbe  house  of  the  dean  of  Christ's  church,  replenished 
him  with  delicate  food,  induced  him  to  play  at  bowls,  and 
take  his  pleasure  in  walking,  and  all  such  indulgences  as, 
after  so  long  endurance  of  hardship  and  privation,  might 
assist  the  flesh  in  its  war  against  the  spirit.  What  argu- 
ments they  used,  or  how  they  beguiled  him,  it  is  bootless 


ARCHBISHOP    CRANMEK.  121 

to  inquire  :  they  succeeded  ;  and  the  paper  of  recantation 
which  he  signed  and  ratified  was  as  fijU  and  ample  as  their 
hearts  could  desire.  In  this,  he  renounces  and  detests  all 
the  errors  and  heresies  of  Luther,  Zuinglius,  and  others ; 
acknowledges  the  church  of  Rome  as  the  only  true  church, 
and  the  pope  as  supreme  head,  Christ's  vicar,  to  whom  all 
Christian  people  should  be  subject.  He  believes,  and  wor- 
ships, in  the  sacrament,  the  very  body  and  blood  of  Jesus 
Christ :  he  acknowledges  the  other  six  sacraments,  accor- 
ding to  the  determination  of  Rome ;  he  craves  pardon  for 
his  past  errors,  exhorts  all  whom  he  has  deluded  to  return 
to  the  unity  of  the  church;  and  submits  himself  to  the  pope, 
the  king  and  the  queen ;  ending  with  a  protestation  that  he 
has  not  done  this  tor  favour  or  fear,  but  willingly,  for  the 
discharge  of  his  conscience,  and  the  instruction  of  others. 

Such  was  the  wicked  declaration  drawn  up  by  his  artful 
deceivers,  to  which  the  unhappy  archbishop  subscribed  his 
name. 

"  O  Israel,  thou  hast  destroyed  thyself;  but  in  me  is 
thine  help."  Many  a  backsliding  child  of  God  has  been 
taught  to  appropriate  those  precious  words ;  and  so  it  was 
with  Cranmer.  Marvellous  indeed  was  the  Lord's  work, 
displayed  in  his  rescue,  and  he  who  had  branded  his  own 
forehead  with  the  accursed  stamp  of  apostasy,  was  yet  to 
wear  the  crown  of  martyrdom  :  a  willing,  though  indeed 
most  guilty  victim  at  the  foot  of  that  cross  which  he  had 
madly  strove  to  cast  from  him.  It  pleased  the  Lord  to  turn 
the  counsel  of  those  wicked  Ahithophels  into  foolishness ; 
for,  instead  of  taking  the  advantage  that  such  a  conquest 
would  have  afforded  them,  and  setting  Cranmer  up  on  high, 
to  be  a  stumbling-block  to  others,  they  determined  to  re- 
venge on  him  their  old  grievances;  and  Mary,  ever  on  the 
alert  to  shed  the  blood  of  her  people,  without  giving  the 
unhappy  renegade  any  notice  of  her  purpose,  directed  Dr. 
Cole  to  go  down  to  Oxford,  and  preach  a  funeral  sermon 
preparatory  to  his  burning.  After  him  she  sent  some  noted 
characters,  experienced  in  the  slaughter  of  Christ's  sheep, 
lord  Williams,  lord  Chandois,  sir  John  Brydges,  justice 
Brown,  and  others,  to  guard  against  any  tumult  that  might 
arise  on  the  unexpected  burning  of  the  archbishop. 

The  21st  March  was  the  time  appointed  for  this  unpa- 
ralleled piece  of  treachery,  and  on  the  preceding  day  Cole 
visited  the  unsuspecting  victim,  who  still  rested  on  their 
positive  assurance  of  sparing  his  life;  and  questioned  him 

MARTYROLOGY. VOL.  II.  11 


122  ARCHBISHOP    CRANMEE. 

as  to  whether  he  still  abode  in  the  catholic  faith ;  to  which 
Cranmer  replied,  that  by  God's  grace  he  would  be  daily- 
more  confirmed  in  the  catholic  faith.  On  the  morrow,  Cole 
came  again,  and  asked  him  if  he  had  any  money;  Cran- 
mer replying  that  he  had  none,  he  gave  him  fifteen  crowns 
to  give  to  the  poor,  to  whom  he  would;  and  exhorting  him 
to  constancy  in  the  faith,  he  departed. 

Cranmer  now  began  to  suspect  the  real  state  of  the 
matter :  and  was  confirmed  therein,  when  a  Spanish  friar, 
one  of  the  witnesses  to  his  recantation,  came  to  him,  bring- 
ing a  paper  with  articles,  for  him  to  recite  in  his  open  re- 
cantation before  the  people ;  earnestly  desiring  that  he 
would  write  them  out  with  his  own  hand,  and  put  his  name 
to  it ;  which  when  he  had  done,  the  friar  requested  another 
copy,  which  was  to  remain  with  him.  Cranmer  complied : 
but  resolving  how  he  would  now  proceed,  he  secretly  put 
into  his  bosom  his  prayer  and  exhortation  written  on  an- 
other paper,  which  he  meant  to  recite  to  the  people,  before 
he  made  his  last  confession  of  faith ;  fearing  lest,  if  they 
heard  the  confession  first,  they  would  not  suffer  him  to  ad- 
dress the  people.  Soon  afi;er  nine  o'clock,  lord  Williams 
and  his  fellow  murderers  arrived,  and  a  great  multitude  of 
persons  assembled,  full  of  expectation  ;  one  party  longing 
to  hear  the  confirmation  of  Cranmer's  apostasy  from  his 
own  lips ;  the  other  yet  trusting  that  the  Lord  would  recal 
his  wandering  sheep,  and  give  him  grace  to  seal  the  testi- 
mony of  that  doctrine  which  he  above  all  other  men  had 
helped  to  set  forth  throughout  the  land.  The  greatest  ex- 
citement prevailed  on  all  sides, 

St.  Mary's  church  was  the  place  appointed  for  Cole's 
sermon ;  before  the  pulpit  was  set  a  stage,  or  scaffolding, 
raised  half  way  between  the  people  and  the  preacher,  on 
which  the  prisoner  was  to  stand.  He  had  again  been  sent  to 
Bocardo,  and  thence  he  now  came  in  the  following  order. 
First  the  mayor,  and  the  corporation :  then  Cranmer,  led 
between  two  friars,  mumbling  some  chant,  through  the 
streets,  alternately,  until  they  came  to  the  church  door, 
when  they  began  the  Nunc  Dimittis,  singing  it  while  they 
conducted  him  to  the  scaffolding,  and  there  left  him. 
The  language  of  old  Fox,  in  describing  the  scene,  is  too 
striking  to  be  altered  : — "  The  lamentable  case  and  sight  of 
that  man  gave  a  sorrowful  spectacle  to  all  Christian  eyes 
that  beheld  him.  He  that  late  was  archbishop,  metropoli- 
tan, and  primate  of  England,  and  the  king's  privy  counsel- 


ARCHBISHOP    CHANMER.  123 

lor,  being  now  in  a  bare  and  ragged  gown,  and  ill-favour- 
edly  clothed,  with  an  old  square  cap,  exposed  to  the  con- 
tempt of  all  men,  did  admonish  men  not  only  of  his  own 
calamity,  but  also  of  their  estate  and  fortune.  For  who 
would  not  pity  his  case,  and  bewail  his  fortune,  and  might 
not  fear  his  own  chance,  to  see  such  a  prelate,  so  grave  a 
counsellor,  and  of  so  long  continued  honour,  after  so  many 
dio-nities,  in  his  old  years  to  be  deprived  of  his  estate,  ad- 
judged to  die,  and  in  so  painful  a  death  to  end  his  life  ;  and 
now  presently  from  such  fresh  ornaments  to  descend  to 
such  vile  and  ragged  apparel  ?  In  this  habit,  when  he  had 
stood  a  good  space  upon  the  stage,  turning  to  a  pillar  near 
adjoining  thereunto,  he  lifted  up  his  hands  to  heaven,  and 
prayed  unto  God  once  or  twice,  till  at  length  Dr.  Cole, 
coming  into  the  pulpit,  began  his  sermon." 

This  discourse  was  just  what  might  have  been  expected 
from  a  cunning  priest,  whose  business  it  was  to  gloss  over 
a  murder.  He  set  about  it  in  so  orderly  a  way,  as  to  prove 
that  he  had  bestowed  no  small  pains  to  acquit  himself  to 
the  queen's  satisfaction.  After  some  prefatory  apocry- 
phal matter,  he  turned  the  story  to  Cranmer,  whom  he  re- 
proached as  having  once  forsaken  the  true  faith,  and 
mightily  promoted  heresy  through  the  land.  Then,  ad- 
verting to  the  justice  of  God,  which  was  mingled  with  his 
mercy,  as  in  the  case  of  David,  he  blasphemously  compared 
with  it  the  dealings  of  his  sanguinary  mistress,  who,  while 
pardoning  Cranmer,  nevertheless  judged  it  fitting  to  put  him 
to  a  cruel  death.  First,  as  a  traitor,  who  had  dissolved 
the  lawful  matrimony  between  her  father  and  mother,  be- 
sides driving  the  pope's  supremacy  out  of  the  land:  se- 
condly, that  he  had  been  a  heretic,  from  whom,  as  from  a 
fountain,  all  the  heretical  doctrines  and  schismatical  opi- 
nions that  so  many  years  had  prevailed  in  England  did  rise 
and  spring :  and  further  that  as  the  death  of  the  duke  of 
Northumberland  had  lately  made  even  sir  Thomas  More, 
chancellor,  who,  as  Cole  said,  died  for  the  church,  so  should 
there  be  one  who  should  make  even  for  the  death  of  Fisher, 
bishop  of  Rochester;  and  because  that  Ridley,  Hooper, 
Farrar,  and  Latimer  were  not  equivalent  to  the  said  Fisher, 
it  seemed  that  Cranmer  should  be  joined  to  them,  to  make 
up  an  equality!  There  were,  he  added,  other  weighty 
causes,  moving  the  queen  and  council,  not  meet  to  be 
opened  to  the  common  people.  Then  the  doctor  wound  up 
his  monstrous  discourse  with  a  significant  application  to 


124  ARCHBISHOP    CRANMER. 

the  hearers,  reading  them  a  lesson  of  passive  obedience  to 
the  queen ;  who,  if  she  spared  not  so  notable  a  person  as 
Cranmer,  would  much  less  spare  any  of  them,  should  they 
oppose  her  supreme  will.  He  drew  a  lamentable  picture 
of  Cranmer's  present  degraded,  forlorn,  and  hopeless  state, 
contrasted  with  what  he  had  been ;  and,  lastly,  bestowed 
some  comfort  on  the  victim,  exhorting  him  to  take  his 
death  well,  reminding  him  of  the  thief  on  the  cross,  the 
three  Jews  in  the  furnace,  St,  Andrew  and  St.  Lawrence; 
exalting  the  pains  that  had  been  taken  for  his  conversion, 
rejoicing  in  their  success,  and  lest  he  should  have  any  un- 
easiness about  his  soul,  promising  in  the  name  of  the 
priests  there  present,  a  multitude  of  dirges,  masses,  fune- 
rals, and  so  forth,  in  all  the  churches  of  Oxford  for  its 
succour. 

It  cannot  be  doubted  that  the  hearing  of  this  infamous 
effusion  inflicted  more  pain  on  Cranmer  than  all  the  flames 
ever  kindled  for  God's  martyrs  could  have  done.  There 
he  stood  the  very  image  of  sorrow  and  self-reproach :  now 
lifting  up  his  hands  and  eyes  to  heaven,  and  again  for 
shame  dropping  them  towards  the  earth.  More  than  twenty 
times  a  fresh  gush  of  tears  bespoke  his  renewed  grief;  those 
who  were  present  testifying  that  they  never  saw  such 
weeping  in  a  little  child,  as  in  this  venerable  father  of  the 
English  church.  Well  do  we  know  that  rivers  of  tears 
could  not  have  washed  out  the  sin  he  had  recently  com- 
mitted; but  those  bursts  of  sorrow  were  the  overflowings 
of  a  heart  smitten  by  the  hand  of  the  Lord;  and  already 
melted  under  the  sense  of  the  immeasurable  love  that  had, 
in  the  blood  of  Christ,  as  we  most  assuredly  believe,  made 
him  clean  from  the  guilt  of  his  transgression.  It  was  the 
bitter  weeping  of  Peter,  over  his  treacherous  denial  of  his 
pardoning  Lord. 

When  Cole  had  finished  his  harangue,  the  people  were 
departing ;  but  he  prayed  them  to  wait,  to  hear  from  Cran- 
mer's lips  the  confirmation  of  what  he  had  stated :  then  he 
called  on  the  archbishop  to  fulfil  his  promise  of  addressing 
them ;  who,  with  alacrity,  answered,  "  I  will ;"  and  beseech- 
ing them  to  join  in  asking  Almighty  God  to  forgive  him, 
commenced  with  a  most  touching  prayer,  full  of  the  deep- 
est self-abhorrence,  confession  of  iniquity,  and  fervent  en- 
treaties for  mercy.  He  offered  it  up  on  his  knees  with 
floods  of  bitter  tears,  while  every  one  seemed  moved  to  the 
liveliest  compassion.     He  followed  this  by  a  long  exhorta- 


ARCHBISHOP    CRANMER.  126 

tion,  in  which  he  enjoined  them,  first,  to  renounce  the 
world  and  serve  God;  secondly,  that  next  to  God  they 
should  obey  the  king  and  queen,  as  being  by  him  appointed 
to  rule  over  them;  thirdly,  to  live  in  brotherly  love,  to  do 
good  to  all  men,  and  hurt  none:  fourthly,  to  wean  their 
hearts  from  riches,  and  show  much  pity  on  the  poor.  He 
then  adverted  to  his  own  case,  with  heaven  ready  to  re- 
ceive him,  or  hell  ready  to  swallow  him  up  :  wherefore  he 
would  declare  to  them  his  very  faith  ;  for  it  was  then  no 
time  to  dissemble,  whatsoever  he  had  said  or  written  in 
times  past.  He  rehearsed  the  apostles'  creed,  addin^r, 
"  And  I  believe  every  article  of  the  catholic  faith,  every 
word  and  sentence  taught  by  our  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  his 
apostles  and  prophets,  in  the  New  and  Old  Testament. 

"And  now,"  he  continued  "I  come  to  the  great  thino- 
which  so  much  troubleth  my  conscience,  more  than  any 
thing  that  ever  I  did  or  said  in  my  whole  life;  that  is,  the 
setting  abroad  of  a  writing  contrary  to  the  truth ;  which 
now  here  I  renounce  and  refuse,  as  things  written  with  my 
hand,  contrary  to  the  truth  which  I  thought  in  iny  heart, 
and  written  for  fear  of  death,  and  to  save  my  life,  if  it 
might  be ;  and  that  is  all  such  bills  and  papers  which  I 
have  written  or  signed  with  my  hand  since  my  degrada- 
tion ;  wherein  I  have  written  many  things  untrue.  And 
forasmuch  as  my  hand  offended,  writing  contrary  to  my 
heart,  my  hand  shall  first  be  punished  therefore;  for,  may 
I  come  to  the  fire,  it  shall  be  first  burned. 

"  And  as  for  the  pope,  I  refuse  him,  as  Christ's  enemy, 
and  Antichrist,  with  all  his  false  doctrine.  And  as  for  the 
sacrament,  I  believe,  as  I  have  taught  in  my  book  a(Tainst 
the  bishop  of  Winchester  ;  the  which  my  book  teacheth  so 
true  a  doctrine  of  the  sacrament,  that  it  shall  stand  at  the 
last  day  before  the  judgment  of  God,  where  the  papistical 
doctrine  contrary  thereto  shall  be  ashamed  to  show  her 
face." 

He  certainly  would  not  have  been  allowed  to  proceed  so 
far,  had  not  astonishment  held  the  hearers  mute  ;  so  unex- 
pected  was  this  avowal  by  the  deceived  and  deceitful  ene- 
mies of  Christ,  Some  presently  began  to  remind  him  of 
his  recantation,  and  to  accuse  him  of  falsehood ;  but  the 
rage  of  the  disappointed  doctors,  who  saw  so  great  a  tro- 
phy wrested  from  them  in  the  moment  of  assured  victory, 
was  grievous.  They  could  take  no  revenge  ;  he  could  die 
but  once,  and  to  death  he  was  doomed  that  day.  The  ut- 
11* 


126  ARCHBISHOP    CEANMEK. 

most  stretch  of  their  power  could  not  kill  him  twice ;  nor 
could  they  hinder  that  from  being  a  martyrdom,  which  was 
likely  to  have  been  the  disgraceful  execution  of  an  apos- 
tate. They  took  the  only  means  left  of  venting  their  anger, 
by  bitterly  reproaching  him  with  dissimulation  :  to  which 
he  answered,  "  Ah,  my  masters,  you  do  not  take  it  so. 
Always  since  I  lived  hitherto,  I  have  been  a  hater  of  false- 
hood, and  a  lover  of  simplicity;  and  never  before  this  time 
have  I  dissembled."  While  he  spoke  this,  all  the  tears  that 
remained  in  his  body  seemed  to  burst  from  his  eyes.  He 
attempted  to  say  more  of  the  papacy  and  the  sacrament ; 
but  they  saw  the  danger,  and  began  to  shout  and  yell  ; 
Cole,  especially,  bawling  out  with  others,  "  Stop  the  here- 
tic's mouth,  and  take  him  away." 

Then  the  archbishop,  being  pulled  from  the  stage,  was 
hurried  away  to  the  fire ;  the  friars  who  had  so  unwittingly 
met  his  case,  by  chanting  over  him  the  song  of  Simeon, 
now  vexing,  troubling,  and  threatening  him  most  cruelly. 
Cranmer  paid  no  regard  to  them,  addressing  all  his  talk  to 
the  people ;  excepting  that  to  one  friar  who  was  very  trou- 
blesome, he  gave  advice  to  go  home  to  his  study,  and  apply 
diligently  to  his  book  ;  telling  him  that  if  he  earnestly  called 
upon  God,  by  reading  more  he  would  get  knowledge. 

Thus,  coming  to  the  place  where  the  holy  bishops  and 
blessed  martyrs  Ridley  and  Latimer  had  given  their  bodies 
to  the  flames  five  months  before,  he  kneeled  down,  prayed 
fervently,  but  briefly,  and  then  rising,  quickly  undressed 
himself  to  his  shirt,  which  was  made  long,  reaching  to  his 
feet :  they  were  bare ;  and  his  head  so  perfectly  bald,  that 
when  his  caps  were  off,  not  a  single  hair  appeared  upon  it. 
His  beard,  long  and  thick,  covered  much  of  his  face,  add- 
ing an  appearance  of  gravity  to  his  venerable  countenance 
that  moved  all  hearts.  The  Spanish  friars,  who  had  chiefly 
wrought  on  him  to  recant,  and  had  been  so  busy  about  him 
since,  tried  once  more  to  draw  him  from  the  faith,  but  in 
vain.  He  gave  his  hand  to  some  old  men  standing  by, 
and  offered  it  to  a  priest  named  Ely,  but  he  refused,  saying 
it  was  not  lawful  to  salute  a  heretic,  particularly  one  who 
had  returned  to  his  erroneous  opinions  after  renouncing 
them.  He  regretted  having  been  so  familiar  with  him,  and 
reproved  those  who  gave  him  their  hands. 

An  iron  chain  was  next  put  round  Cranmer,  and,  seeing 
there  was  no  hope  of  moving  him  from  his  steadfast  mind, 
they  kindled  the  fire,  which  blazed  up  towards  him ;  and 


AGNES    POTTEN — JOAN    TRUNCHFIELD.  127 

as  soon  as  he  saw  it  rise,  he  stretched  out  his  arm,  put  his 
right  hand  into  the  flame,  and  there  held  it,  unflinching  and 
immovable,  except  that  once  he  applied  it  to  his  face,  until 
in  the  sight  of  all  men  it  was  consumed  before  his  body- 
was  even  scorched.  When  the  fire  reached  him,  he  stood, 
as  fixed  and  motionless  as  the  stake  to  which  he  was 
bound,  his  eyes  uplifted  to  heaven  and  the  words  frequently 
escaping  him,  "  That  unworthy  right  hand  !"  This  he 
repeated  as  long  as  voice  was  left,  intermingling  with  it  the 
prayer,  "  Lord  Jesus,  receive  my  spirit !"  until  in  the  great- 
ness of  the  flame  he  gave  up  the  ghost. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

FIERCE    PERSECUTIONS    AND    NUMEROUS    MARTYRDOMS. 

It  would  seem  as  though  the  rageof  disappointment  excited 
by  Cranmer's  recovery  from  his  fearful  lapse,  and  his  ad- 
mission into  the  noble  army  of  martyrs,  had  traversed  the 
whole  land,  in  a  paroxysm  of  madness,  to  collect  Christ's 
sheep  for  the  slaughter.  Those  who  followed  were,  gene- 
rally, from  the  inferior  ranks  of  society,  but  no  whit  less 
precious  in  the  sight  of  God.  It  may  be  remembered  that, 
at  the  burning  of  Robert  Samuel,  in  Ipswich,  two  women 
were  marked  out  for  destruction,  because  they  kindly  greet- 
ed their  pastor,  as  he  went  to  the  stake.  Their  names  were 
Agnes  Potten,  and  Joan  Trunchfield,  wives  of  two 
humble  artisans  in  Ipswich,  whose  offence  consisted  in 
affirming  that  Jesus  Christ  was  in  heaven  on  the  right 
hand  of  the  Father,  and  not  bodily  present  in  the  sacra- 
ment. For  this  they  were  condemned  and  burnt.  At 
the  fire,  having  made  themselves  ready,  they  addressed  the 
people  with  much  scriptural  exhortation  and  encourage- 
ment; earnestly  desiring  them  to  credit  and  lay  hold  on 
the  word  of  God,  and  not  on  man's  devices  and  inventions: 
bidding  them  despise  the  ordinances  and  institutions  of  the 
Romish  Antichrist,  with  all  his  superstitions  and  corrupt 
religion.  They  held  up  their  hands  in  the  fire,  calling 
upon  God  ;  and  showing  a  marvellous  example  of  courage- 
ous consistency  to  the  end.     Trunchfield  had  appeared 


128  MAUNDREL — SPICER — COBERLEY. 

much  less  ardent  and  zealous  than  her  companion  in  the 
prospect  of  death ;  but  when  actually  brought  to  the  place 
of  suffering,  her  joy  and  comfort  abounded  even  above  the 
other's.     God  was  glorified  in  both. 

Salisbury  was  the  scene  of  the  next  murders.  Three 
men,  John  Maundrel,  John  Spicer,  and  William  Co- 
BERLEY,  were  brought  to  the  flames  together.  Maundrel 
was  the  son  of  a  farmer,  and  himself  of  the  same  calling. 
He  became  a  hearer  of  the  gospel,  by  means  of  Tindal's 
Testament,  which  he  always  carried  about  with  him ;  and 
being  unable  to  read,  he  produced  it  whenever  he  found 
himself  in  company  with  those  who  could.  By  this  means, 
with  the  help  of  an  excellent  memory,  he  nearly  learned  it 
all  by  rote;  his  life  and  conversation  testifying  that  he  was 
savingly  influenced  by  what  he  knew.  On  one  occasion, 
in  Henry's  days,  he  was  reported  as  having  spoken  against 
holy  bread,  holy  water,  and  other  Romish  follies,  and  for 
this  crime  he  did  penance  in  a  white  sheet,  at  Devizes. 

When,  under  Mary,  popery  was  restored,  and  true  reli- 
gion put  to  silence,  Maundrel  for  a  while  left  his  home  in 
Wiltshire,  but  shortly  resolved  to  return.  A  friend  urged 
him  to  follow  the  counsel,  "When  they  persecute  you  in 
one  city,  flee  to  another;"  but  he  replied  by  quoting  what 
is  said  of  the  fearful  and  unbelieving  in  Revelation  xxii.  On 
his  return,  Spicer,  a  mason,  and  Coberley,  a  tailor,  often 
resorted  to  him  for  conference ;  and  thus  together  built 
themselves  up  in  their  most  holy  faith.  Filled  with  zeal, 
they  determined  soon  after  to  bear  a  public  testim.ony  against 
the  abominations  that  prevailed  ;  and  going  to  the  parish 
church  of  Revel,  remonstrated  with  the  people  who  were 
following  in  procession  the  idol  wafer :  but  they  gave  little 
or  no  heed.  When  the  vicar  came  to  the  pulpit,  he  began 
to  read  his  bead-roll,  and  to  pray  for  the  souls  in  purgatory; 
which  Maundrel  with  an  audible  voice,  called  the  pope's 
pinfold,  the  other  two  affirming  the  same.  For  this  they 
were  placed  in  the  stocks  during  the  remainder  of  the  ser- 
vice, then  brought  before  a  justice,  and  finally  sent  off,  the 
next  day,  to  bishop  Capon  at  Salisbury.  After  several 
private  examinations,  they  were  publicly  questioned,  in  the 
parish  church  of  Fisherton  Angel,  concerning  their  belief. 
They  said  they  believed  as  Christian  men  should  and  ought 
to  do, — in  God,  the  Father,  the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost ; 
in  the  twelve  articles  of  the  creed,  and  in  holy  Scripture 
from  the  first  of  Genesis  to  the  last  of  the  Apocalypse. 


MAUNDREL SPICER COBERLEY,  129 

This  did  not  content  the  chancellor ;  he  therefore  demand- 
ed whether  they  believed,  that  in  the  sacrament,  after  con- 
secration, there  remained  no  substance  of  bread  or  wine, 
but  Christ's  body,  flesh,  and  blood,  as  he  was  born  of  the 
Virgin  Mary.  They  answered  negatively,  saying,  that  the 
popish  mass  was  abominable  idolatry,  and  injurious  to  the 
blood  of  Christ:  confessing,  however,  that  in  a  faithful  con- 
gregation, receiving  the  sacrament  of  Christ's  body  and 
blood,  being  duly  ministered  according  to  Christ's  institu- 
tion, Christ's  body  and  blood  is  spiritually  received  of  the 
faithful  believer.  Being  asked  as  to  the  pope's  supremacy, 
they  replied  that  the  bishop  of  Rome  usurped  over  empe- 
rors and  kings,  being  Antichrist  and  God's  enemy.  Being 
asked,  "Will  ye  have  the  church  without  a  head?"  they 
answered,  Christ  was  head  of  his  church  ;  and  under  Christ, 
the  queen's  majesty.  "  What  a  woman  head  of  the  church?" 
They  said.  Yea,  within  her  grace's  dominions.  As  to  pur- 
gatory, they  replied  that  they  believed  faithfully  that  the 
blood  of  Christ  had  purged  their  sins,  and  the  sins  of  them 
that  were  saved,  unto  the  end  of  the  world ;  so  that  they 
feared  nothing  of  the  pope's  purgatory,  nor  esteemed  his 
pardons.  To  the  question,  whether  images  were  necessary 
to  be  in  the  churches,  as  laymen's  books,  and  saints  to  be 
prayed  to  and  worshipped,  they  answered  negatively, 
Maundrel  adding  that  wooden  images  were  good  to  roast  a 
shoulder  of  mutton,  but  evil  in  the  church;  thereby  idola- 
try being  committed. 

The  articles  being  thus  answered,  the  chancellor  read 
their  condemnation,  and  delivered  them  to  the  sheriff;  to 
whom  Spicer  said,  "Oh,  master  sheriff,  now  must  you  be 
their  butcher,  that  you  may  be  guilty  also  with  them  of  in- 
nocent blood  before  the  Lord."  The  next  day,  three  days 
after  Cranmer's  burning,  they  were  brought  out  of  the  gaol 
to  a  place  between  Salisbury  and  Wilton,  where  two  posts 
were  set  for  them.  Here  they  kneeled,  and  prayed  secretly 
together;  then  being  undressed  to  their  shirts,  Maundrel 
was  heard  to  say  in  a  very  loud  voice,  "  Not  for  all  Salis- 
bury;" in  answer,  no  doubt,  to  the  sheriff's  offer  of  the 
queen's  pardon,  if  he  would  recant.  Spicer  observed,  "  This 
is  the  joyfullest  day  that  ever  I  saw."  They  were  then 
fastened  to  the  stakes  and  burnt,  rendering  their  souls 
gladly  and  trustfully  to  the  Lord  their  Redeemer.  Coberley 
suffered  long  and  dreadfully;  but  without  complaint  or  im- 
patience.  His  wife  was  likely  to  have  partaken  of  the  same 


130  DRAKES. 

cup,  for  she  also  was  imprisoned  with  them;  but  a  device 
of  the  keeper's  wife  overcame  her  constancy.  This  woman 
heated  a  large  key  red  hot,  and  laid  it  down  in  the  grass 
behind  the  house,  then  sent  Alice  Coberley  to  fetch  her  the 
key  with  all  speed.  Alice  ran  to  obey  her;  and  hastily 
taking  it  up,  was  severely  burnt  in  the  hand,  which  made 
her  cry  out.  The  other  asked  her,  since  she  could  not 
endure  that  pain,  how  she  would  bear  the  burning  of  her 
whole  body?     The  unhappy  woman  recanted. 

On  the  23d  of  April,  Smithfield  was  again  lighted  up  with 
the  flame  that  consumed  the  bodies  of  six  faithful  martyrs. 
These  were  Robert  Drakes,  William  Tyms,  Richard 
and  Thomas  Spurge,  John  Cavel,  and  George  Am- 
brose, all  of  Essex,  within  the  Diocese  of  London.  They 
had  been  sent  up  at  sundry  times  to  Stephen  Gardiner,  then 
lord  chancellor,  who,  in  the  month  of  March,  1555,  after 
examination,  committed  them  to  the  king's  bench  and  Mar- 
shalsea,  where  they  remained  nearly  a  year.  After  his 
death.  Heath,  archbishop  of  York,  succeeded  him  in  the 
chancellorship;  and  then  four  of  the  sufferers,  the  two 
Spurges,  Cavel,  and  Ambrose,  sent  up  a  supplication  to 
him,  that  they  might  appear,  and  be  judged.  Sir  Richard 
Read  was  accordingly  sent  to  the  prison  to  examine  them: 
he  began  with  Richard  Spurge,  a  shearer,  whose  offence 
was  absenting  himself  from  the  mass,  which  he  said  he 
misliked,  as  well  as  the  Latin  service.  Thomas  Spurge, 
a  fuller,  was  accused  lor  the  same  matter:  he  said  that  he 
absented  himself  from  church  because  the  word  of  God  was 
not  there  truly  taught,  or  the  sacraments  of  Christ  duly 
ministered.  Ambrose,  also  a  fuller,  added  to  the  same  tale, 
that  after  he  had  read  Winchester's  book,  De  vera  obedi- 
entid,  with  Bonner's  preface  annexed,  both  inveighing 
against  the  authority  of  the  bishop  of  Rome,  he  set  less  by 
their  doings  than  before.  Cavel,  a  weaver,  agreeing  with 
the  former,  also  said  that  he  staid  from  church  because  the 
parson  preached  contrary  doctrines:  for  first,  in  a  sermon 
on  the  queen's  accession,  he  had  called  on  the  people  to 
believe  the  gospel,  for  it  was  the  truth;  and  if  they  did  not 
believe  it  they  should  be  damned:  but  in  a  second  sermon, 
he  preached  that  the  Testament  was  false  in  forty  places. 

Robert  Drakes  was  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  first  made 
deacon  by  Dr.  Rowland  Taylor,  at  the  command  ofCranmer, 
and  afterwards  ordained  priest  by  bishop  Ridley.  He  was 
then  presented  by  lord  Rich  to  the  living  of  Thundersley,  in 


TYMS.  131 

Essex,  where  he  faithfully  fulfilled  his  office,  until,  by  the 
the  same  lord  Rich,  he  was  sent  to  the  bishop  of  Winches- 
ter, to  answer  for  heretical  doctrines.  Gardiner  asked  him 
if  he  would  conform  himself  like  a  subject  to  the  laws  of 
the  realm,  then  in  force ;  he  answered  that  he  would  abide 
all  laws  which  stood  with  the  laws  of  God.  On  this,  he 
was  committed  to  prison. 

William  Tyms  was  a  deacon,  curate  of  Hockley,  in 
Essex :  his  accuser  was  Mr.  Tyrrel,  to  whom  appertained 
two  woods,  called  Plumborough  wood,  and  Beeches  wood  ; 
and  under  shelter  of  these  trees,  two  sermons  were  preached 
for  the  comfort  of  the  Lord's  poor  hunted  flock,  in  Mary's 
days.  An  honest  servant  of  Tyrrel's,  named  John  Gye, 
with  his  wife,  went  to  hear  them,  which  was  reported  to 
his  master,  with  the  fact  that  his  woods  were  polluted  by 
sermons.  Mr.  Tyrrel  being  greatly  displeased  thereat, 
came  to  Hockley,  in  the  hope  of  laying  hold  on  the  offend- 
ers; for  he  was  in  the  commission  of  the  peace,  appointed 
to  keep  down  the  gospel  in  that  district ;  which  he  did  to 
the  best  of  his  ability,  as  by  his  acts  fully  appears.  He 
ascertained  that  about  a  hundred  persons  had  attended  the 
sermons ;  and  sending  for  Gye,  reprimanded  him  severely, 
asking  where  was  the  naughty  fellow  who  served  the  pa- 
rish, Tyms ;  who  was,  he  said,  the  cause  of  bringing  the 
people  there.  He  charged  Gye  to  fetch  him;  but  he  de- 
clared he  did  not  know  where  he  was ;  nor  could  he  be 
persuaded  to  betray  him.  Another  man,  however,  offered 
to  do  so ;  and  the  constables  were  dispatched  for  the 
deacon. 

Tyrrel  commanded  Tyms  to  be  left  alone  with  him  that 
he  might  the  more  freely  reproach  and  revile  him:  a  part 
of  their  conversation  was  as  follows.  Tyrrel  said  that 
when  he  saw  the  blessed  rood,  it  made  him  think  of  God. 
"  Why,  sir,"  answered  Tyms,  "  if  an  idol  that  is  made 
with  man's  hands  doth  make  you  remember  God,  how 
much  more  ought  the  creatures  of  God,  as  man,  being  his 
workmanship,  or  the  grass,  or  the  trees  that  bring  forth 
fruit,  make  you  remember  God  ?"  Tyrrel  replied,  by  call- 
ing him  traitorly  knave.  "  Why,  sir,"  said  Tyms,  "  did 
you  not  in  king  Edward's  days  affirm  the  truth  that  I  do 
now  ?"  Tyrrel  swore  a  blasphemous  oath  that  he  never 
thought  it  with  his  heart.  "  Well,"  rejoined  Tyms,  "  then 
I  pray  you  master  Tyrrel  bear  with  me ;  for  I  have  been 
a  traitor  but  a  while,  but  you  have  been  a  traitor  six  years." 


132  TYMS. 

He  was  then  sent  to  the  bishop  of  London.  Mr.  Tyrrel 
deprived  Gye  of  his  livery,  appointing  another  in  his  place; 
and  so  the  matter  rested  at  Hockley. 

When  Tyms  came  to  Bonner,  the  bishop  of  Bath  was 
with  him  ;  and  for  the  space  of  six  or  seven  hours  he  stood 
before  them,  enabled  to  answer  all  their  subtleties,  and  to 
maintain  his  profession  of  the  faith  so  steadfastly,  that  the 
constables  who  attended  him  declared  they  never  heard 
the  like:  and  when  the  bishop,  as  if  anxious  to  save  Tyms, 
asked  these  men  to  give  him  good  counsel,  they  assured 
him  that  it  was  useless,  for  he  would  never  turn.  At  last 
the  bishops,  willing  to  flatter  him,  said,  "Ah,  good  fellow, 
thou  art  bold,  and  thou  hast  a  good  fresh  spirit :  we  would 
thou  hadst  learning  to  thy  spirit."  "  I  thank  you,  my 
lords,"  said  he:  "and  both  of  you  be  learned,  and  I  would 
you  had  a  good  spirit  to  your  learning."  They  then  sent 
him  to  Gardiner,  who  received  him,  sitting  in  all  the 
pompous  pride  of  his  office.  Tyms  being  only  a  deacon, 
was  simply  habited  in  a  coat,  his  hose  being  of  a  rustic 
make:  and  Gardiner  scoffingly  saluted  him,  "  Ah,  sirrah, 
are  you  a  deacon  ?"  "  Yes,  my  lord,  that  I  am."  The 
proud  prelate  returned,  "  So  methinketh,  you  are  decked 
like  a  deacon."  "  My  lord,"  said  the  fearless  man,  "  my 
vesture  doth  not  so  much  vary  from  a  deacon,  but  methink- 
eth your  apparel  doth  as  much  vary  from  an  apostle." 
Winchester  forthwith  committed  him  to  the  King's  Bench, 
where  he  found  many  brethren  to  strengthen  him  in  the 
faith. 

It  was  not  long  before  he  was  returned  to  Bonner  by 
Gardiner,  who  took  no  further  trouble  about  him  ;  and  thus 
he  was  placed  with  the  other  five,  and  brought  up  with 
them  for  examination  five  months  after  Stephen  Gardiner 
had  gone  to  his  awful  account.  The  principal  charge 
against  them  was,  of  course,  their  disbelief  of  transubstan- 
tiation,  on  which  they  were  questioned  by  the  bishop's 
chaplain;  and  two  days  afterwards,  on  the  23d  March,  Bon- 
ner sent  for  Drakes  and  Tyms  in  his  ex-officio  capacity,  and 
objected  against  them  the  articles  before  objected  to  Green, 
and  his  fellow  martyrs:  the  same  proceeding  was  used  on 
the  26th  towards  the  other  four;  and  finally  on  the  28th 
they  were  all  brought  up  together  for  judgment,  to  the  open 
consistory  in  Paul's  church. 

Bonner  began  by  addressing  Tyms  as  the  ringleader  and 
perverter  of  his  companions  ;  he  said,  if  his  fault  had  not 


TYMS.  133 

reached  to  the  hurt  of  others,  he  would  have  followed 
Christ's  rule,  told  him  of  it  privately,  and  if  that  failed,  be- 
fore two  or  three  others ;  and  if  that  served  not,  then  he 
would  have  told  the  church:  but  because  of  the  greatness 
and  notoriety  of  his  fault,  he  had  thought  good  to  follow 
St.  Paul's  injunction,  "  Such  as  sin,  rebuke  openly,  that 
others  may  fear."  Therefore,  he  was  brought  before  the 
people,  to  receive  judgment  according  to  his  deserts.  This 
impudent  speech  he  concluded  by  asking  what  Tyms  could 
say,  why  he  should  not  proceed  to  do  so.  He  answered, 
"  My  lord,  I  marvel  that  you  will  begin  with  a  lie ;  you 
call  me  the  ringleader  and  teacher  of  this  company;  but 
how  untruly  you  have  said  shall  shortly  appear ;  for  there 
is  none  of  all  these,  my  brethren,  which  are  brought  hither 
as  prisoners,  but  when  they  were  at  liberty  and  out  of  pri- 
son they  dissented  from  you  and  your  doings  as  much  as 
they  do  at  this  present ;  and  for  that  cause  they  are  now 
prisoners.  So  it  is  evident  that  they  learned  not  their  re- 
ligion in  prison.  And  as  for  me,  I  never  knew  them  till 
such  time  as  I,  by  your  commandment,  was  prisoner  with 
them.  How  could  I  then  be  their  ringleader  and  teacher? 
So  that  all  the  world  may  see  how  untruly  you  have 
spoken.  As  for  my  fault,  which  you  make  so  grievous, 
whatsoever  you  judge  of  me,  I  am  well  assured  that  I  hold 
none  other  religion  than  Christ  preached,  the  apostles  wit- 
nessed, the  primitive  church  received,  and  now  of  late  the 
apostolical  and  evangelical  preachers  of  this  realm  have 
faithfully  taught;  for  the  which  you  have  cruelly  burned 
them,  and  now  you  seek  our  blood  also.  Proceed  on  hardly 
by  what  rule  you  will;  I  force  not,  I  do  not  refuse  you  for 
my  ordinary." 

Bonner  then  exhorted  him  to  recant,  telling  him  if  he  so 
did  he  should  be  forgiven;  if  not,  he  should  have  judgment 
as  a  heretic.  On  this,  one  of  the  prisoners  cried  out,  "My 
lord,  you  are  no  upright  judge;  for  you  judge  after  your 
own  lust.  But  if  you  will  judge  us  according  to  the  holy 
testament  of  Christ,  which  is  the  word  of  truth,  we  will 
accord  to  your  judgment;  for  unto  that  word  we  wholly 
submit  ourselves.  But  as  for  your  judgment  without  the 
truth,  God  shall  condemn  it."  This  prisoner  was  very 
urgent  to  be  tried  by  the  word  of  God  ;  which  angered  the 
bishop,  who  called  him  busy  knave;  commanding  him  to 
hold  his  tongue,  or  he  should  be  had  away  to  a  place  of 
smaller  ease.     Tyms  then  proceeded,  saying,  "  My  lord,  I 

MARTYROLOGY. VOL.  II.  12 


134  TYMS. 

doubt  not  but  I  am  of  the  catholic  church,  whatsoever  you 
judge  of  me;  but  as  for  your  church,  you  have  before  this 
day  renounced  it,  and  by  corporeal  oath  promised  never  to 
consent  to  the  same :  contrary  to  the  which  you  have  receiv- 
ed into  this  realm  the  pope's  authority;  and  therefore  you 
are  falsely  perjured  and  forsworn,  all  the  sort  of  you. 
Besides  this,  you  have  both  spoken  and  written  very  earnestly 
against  that  usurped  power;  and  now  you  do  burn  men 
that  will  not  acknowledge  the  pope  to  be  supreme  head." 

Bonner  asked  where  he  had  written  any  thing  against 
the  church  of  Rome;  and  Tyms  referred  him  to  his  pre- 
face to  Winchester's  book,  where  he  had  inveighed  against 
the  bishop  of  Rome,  calling  his  power  false  and  pretended. 
Bonner  seemed  for  a  little  space  confounded ;  then  address- 
ing the  bystanders  very  meekly,  he  made  his  defence  to 
them;  telling  them  that  he  and  Winchester  had  so  done 
because  of  the  perilous  world  that  then  was;  for  it  was 
made  treason,  he  said,  by  the  laws  of  the  realm,  to  main- 
tain the  pope's  authority:  adding  the  monstrous  falsehood, 
that  if  any  man  uttered  his  conscience  respecting  that  au- 
thority, he  suffered  death  for  it.  Then  turning  to  Tyms  he 
continued,  "  But  since  the  coming  in  of  the  queen's  majes- 
ty, when  we  might  be  bold  to  speak  our  conscience,  we 
have  acknowledged  our  faults;  and  my  lord  of  Winches- 
ter himself  shamed  not  to  recant  the  same  at  Paul's  cross. 
And  also,  thou  thyself  seest  that  I  stand  not  in  it,  but  willing- 
ly have  submitted  myself.  Do  thou  also  as  we  have  done." 
"  My  lord,"  said  Tyms,  "  that  which  you  have  written 
against  the  supremacy  of  the  pope  may  be  well  approved 
by  the  Scriptures.  But  that  which  5'ou  now  do,  is  against 
the  word  of  God,  as  I  can  well  prove." 

Here  one  of  the  doctors,  supposed  to  be  Coke,  interposed, 
telling  Tyms  he  was  like  a  man  who  passed  the  whole  day 
hunting  over  hill  and  dale,  and  came  home  at  night  having 
taken  nothing.  So  he  laboured  in  reading  the  Scripture, 
but  never  could  take  the  meaning  thereof.  Tyms  answer- 
ed that  the  similitude  was  not  well  applied;  for,  he  praised 
God,  he  had  not  read  the  Scriptures  unprofitably,  God, 
he  was  thankful,  had  revealed  to  him  so  much  of  them  as 
he  doubted  not  was  sufficient  for  his  salvation.  Bonner, 
repeating  the  assertion  of  his  ignorance,  asked  how  he  knew 
that  thing  to  be  the  word  of  God,  which  he  called  Scrip- 
ture? Drake  instantly  answered  to  this,  saying,  that  he 
knew  it  to  be  the  word  of  God,  for  that  it  did  show  unto 


TYMS.  1 35 

men  their  salvation  in  Christ;  and  did  revoke  and  call 
back  all  men  from  wicked  life,  into  a  pure  and  undefiled 
conversation.  The  bishop  replied  that  heathen  writers  had 
taught  precepts  of  good  living  as  well  as  the  Scripture;  and 
yet  their  writings  were  not  esteemed  to  be  God's  word. 
Tyms  answered,  "The  Old  Testament  beareth  witness  of 
those  things  that  are  written  in  the  new:  for  there  is  no- 
thing taught  in  the  New  Testament,  but  it  was  foreshown 
in  the  law  and  prophets."  This  Bonner  positively  denied; 
and  Drakes  began  to  quote  Isaiah  in  support  of  it:  till  Bon- 
ner, who  never  could  long  brook  any  appeal  of  that  kind, 
turned  to  Dr.  Pendleton,  requesting  him  to  devise  some- 
thing to  do  these  men  good.  But  while  the  Dr.  sat  with 
his  face  buried  in  his  hands,  considering  how  best  to  com- 
mend his  own  example  of  apostasy  to  these  fervent  spirits, 
Bonner  saved  him  any  further  trouble  by  proceeding  in  all 
haste  to  other  talk,  and  then  to  condemn  them  to  the  flames; 
preparatory  to  which  he  caused  the  articles  to  be  read, 
demanding  their  answers  thereto.  Tyms  gave  his  very 
clearly  and  scripturally:  after  which  Bonner  entreated  him 
to  revoke  his  heresies,  to  reform  himself  unto  the  church 
of  Rome,  and  not  to  stick  so  much  to  the  literal  sense  of 
the  scriptures,  but  to  use  the  interpretations  of  the  old 
fathers.  Tyms  refused;  thanking  God  for  that  day,  trust- 
ing he  would  turn  all  their  curses  into  blessings.  "  And," 
he  asked,  "  what  have  you  to  maintain  the  real  presence 
of  Christ  in  the  sacrament,  but  only  the  bare  letter?"  "We 
have,"  quoth  Bonner,  "  the  catholic  church."  "  No,"  said 
Tyms,  "  you  have  the  popish  church  of  Rome  for  you,  for 
which  you  be  perjured  and  forsworn.  And  the  see  of  Rome 
is  the  see  of  Antichrist;  and  therefore  to  that  church  I  will 
not  conform  myself,  nor  once  consent  unto  it."  Then 
Bonner,  seeing  his  constant  boldness  to  be  immovable,  pro- 
ceeded to  his  condemnation,  pronounced  the  sentence  defi- 
nitive upon  him,  and  gave  him  over  to  the  secular  power. 

When  Robert  Drakes  was  called,  and  in  like  manner 
exhorted,  he  answered,  "As  for  your  church  of  Rome,  I 
utterly  defy  and  deny  it,  with  all  the  works  thereof,  even 
as  I  deny  the  devil  and  all  his  works."  He  too  was  pre- 
sently condemned,  and  delivered  to  the  sheriff. 

Thomas  Spurge  was  next  asked  if  he  would  return  to 
the  catholic  church,  and  said,  "  As  for  your  church  of 
Rome,  I  do  utterly  deny  it;  but  to  the  true  catholic  church 
I  am  content  to  return,  and  continue  in  the  same,  where- 


136  HARPOLE BKACH HULLIER. 

of  I  believe  the  church  of  Rome  to  be  no  part  or  mem- 
ber." The  rest  were  found  in  the  like  constant  state;  and 
all  were  together  sentenced  by  Bonner;  who  ridding  his 
blood-stained  hands  of  them,  gave  them  into  the  custody 
of  the  sheriffs  of  London,  by  whom  they  were  lodged  in 
Newgate;  whither  they  went  most  joyfully,  abiding  there 
the  Lord's  good  time,  when  he  should  permit  them  to  seal 
their  faith  with  the  shedding  of  their  blood.  On  the  twen- 
ty-third of  April,  they  were  led  toSmithfield,  and  with  great 
willingness  gave  their  lives  in  the  cause  of  Him  who  had 
redeemed  them  with  his  most  precious  blood. 

Some  letters  remain  of  Tyms'  which  prove  him  to  have 
been  an  eminently  gifted  and  most  spiritually  minded  man, 
with  a  strong,  clear  view  of  the  abominations  that  defile 
the  papacy,  throughout  its  iniquitous  mystery,  which  it  is 
greatly  to  be  wished  was  more  generally  enjoyed  in  our 
day.  The  martyrs  considered  that  church  to  be  no  part 
of  the  church  of  Christ;  the  very  name  of  Antichrist  con- 
veyed so  much  to  their  plain  apprehension ;  and  therefore 
to  touch  that  most  unclean  thing  was  in  their  sight,  as  it 
ought  to  be  in  ours,  an  actual  renunciation  of  their  Lord 
and  Saviour. 

John  Harpole,  of  Rochester,  and  Joan  Beach,  a  widow 
of  Tunbridge,  were  about  this  time  accused  before  the 
bishop  of  Rochester,  and  both  remaining  firm  in  their  de- 
nial of  transubstantiation,  they  were  committed  to  one  fire 
in  the  town  of  Rochester. 

The  next  martyrdom  was  that  of  John  Hullier,  a  min- 
ister. He  was  educated  at  Eton,  and  thence  elected  scho- 
lar of  King's  college,  Cambridge.  After  studying  and 
taking  orders  there,  he  obtained  a  curacy  three  miles  dis- 
tant, and  was  afterwards  removed  to  Lynn.  Here  he  had 
many  contests  with  the  papists,  who  at  last  apprehended 
him,  and  took  him  to  Thurlby,  the  bishop,  at  Ely,  and  he, 
after  several  examinations,  sent  him  to  Cambridge  Castle, 
which  being  perhaps  deemed  too  good  a  lodging,  he  was 
shortly  after  removed  to  the  tolbooth,  or  common  prison, 
where  he  remained  almost  three  months.  At  length  being 
brought  to  examination  at  St.  Mary's  church,  before  a 
number  of  Doctors  and  others,  and  being  found  constant 
in  professing  the  truth,  sentence  was  read  against  him 
by  Dr.  Fuller;  and  the  foolish  ceremony  of  degradation 
performed.  When  they  had  done,  Hullier  said,  "  This  is 
the  joyfulest  day  that  ever  I  saw ;  and  I  thank  you  all, 


HULLIER.  137 

that  ye  have  delivered  and  lightened  me  of  all  this  paltry." 
While  it  was  doing,  one  standing  by,  and  seeing  a  book  in 
Hullier's  hand,  asked  what  it  was:  he  said,  "  A  Testa- 
ment." Whereupon  this  man  snatched  it  away  in  a  rage, 
and  threw  it  violently  to  a  distance.  HuUier  was  then  de- 
livered to  the  mayor,  who  conducted  him  back  to  prison, 
taking  away  all  his  books,  writings,  and  papers. 

On  Maundy  Thursday  this  gentle  martyr  was  brought 
to  the  stake,  near  Jesus'  college,  and  exhorted  the  people 
to  pray  for  him.  Then  he  prayed  silently  for  a  time,  until 
a  bystander  said,  "  The  Lord  strengthen  thee,"  and  was 
sharply  reproved  for  it  by  a  serjeant,  who  bade  him  hold 
his  tongue,  or  he  should  repent  it.  HuUier  then  said, 
"  Friend,  I  trust  that  as  God  has  hitherto  begun,  so  also  he 
will  strengthen  me,  and  finish  his  work  upon  me.  I  am 
bidden  to  a  Maundy,  whither  I  trust  to  go,  and  there  to 
be  shortly.  God  has  laid  the  foundation,  as  I,  by  his  aid, 
will  end  it."  Then  sitting  down  to  have  his  hose  taken  off, 
he  desired  the  people  again  to  pray  for  him;  and  also  to 
bear  witness  that  he  died  in  the  right  faith,  and  would  seal 
it  with  his  blood;  certifying  them  that  he  died  in  a  just 
cause,  and  for  the  testimony  of  the  truth ;  and  that  there 
was  no  other  rock  but  Jesus  Christ  to  build  upon,  under 
whose  banner  he  fought,  and  whose  soldier  he  was. 

While  thus  he  addressed  the  people  on  all  sides,  a  stu- 
dent who  stood  near  called  out  to  a  proctor  of  the  univer- 
sity, "  Hear  ye  not,  master  proctor,  what  blasphemies  this 
fellow  uttereth?  Surely  it  is  evil  done  to  suffer  him."  On 
which  the  proctor  called  out  to  the  mayor,  asking  what  he 
meant;  threatening  to  report  him  to  the  council,  as  un- 
friendly to  the  queen,  if  he  allowed  that  pernicious  person 
to  go  on.  Hereupon  Hullier  was  silent,  and  went  meekly 
to  the  stake,  where  being  chained,  fire  was  brought  to  the 
wood  and  reeds  round  the  pitch-barrel  in  which  he  stood. 
The  wind  was  unfavourable,  and  he  suffered  much  :  but 
just  then  a  number  of  books  were  cast  into  the  fire,  and  he 
catching  one  in  his  hands,  and  finding  it  to  be  a  book  of 
the  communion,  joyfully  held  it  before  him,  reading  until 
from  the  force  of  the  flame  and  smoke  he  could  see  no  more. 
He  then  fell  to  prayer,  holding  up  his  hands  to  heaven,  the 
book  being  pressed  between  his  arm  and  heart,  while  he 
thanked  God  for  sending  it  to  him.  When  for  a  long  time 
he  had  been  seemingly  dead,  in  the  intenseness  of  the  fire, 
12* 


138  VARIOUS   MAETYES. 

he  suddenly  uttered  the  words,  "  Lord  Jesus,  receive  my 
spirit !"  and  died  most  meekly. 

The  people  being  greatly  touched  by  his  sufferings  and 
patient  demeanour,  all  prayed  for  him,  shedding  many  tears. 
The  chief  men  seeing  this,  cried  out  that  he  was  not  to  be 
prayed  for ;  and  being  but  a  condemned  soul  it  would  pro- 
fit him  nothing.  Nevertheless,  the  populace  went  on  pray- 
ing, which  enraged  the  others  so  much  that  they  uttered 
terrible  threatenings  to  deter  them.  When  all  the  flesh 
was  consumed  from  the  martyr's  bones,  the  lifeless  skele- 
ton remained  standing,  in  a  remarkable  way;  and  the  peo- 
ple, in  defiance  of  all  menaces,  strove  who  should  secure  a 
relic  of  one  whom  they  could  not  but  regard  as  a  murdered 
saint  of  God. 

Then  followed  six  from  Colchester  and  its  neighbour- 
hood:  CHEisTornER  Lyster,  husbandman;  John  Mace, 
apothecary;  John  Spencer,  weaver ;  Simon  Joyne,  saw- 
yer;  Richard  Nichols,  weaver;  and  John  Hammond, 
tanner.  These  were  together  sent  to  Bonner,  who,  having 
his  hands  now  so  full  of  murders  that  he  scarcely  knew 
how  to  perpetrate  them  fast  enough,  made  very  quick  work 
with  them.  He  had  these  prisoners  brought  to  his  house 
at  Fulham,  and  at  once  propounded  to  them  in  the  open 
church  the  same  articles  that  had  been  ministered  to  the 
others.  To  the  first,  the  existence  of  one,  true,  catholic 
church,  they  all  consented;  John  Spencer  adding,  that  the 
church  malignant,  which  is  the  church  of  Rome,  is  no  part 
of  Christ's  catholic  church;  and  that  he  neither  hath  nor 
doth  believe  the  doctrine  and  religion  taught  and  set  forth 
in  the  same  Romish  and  malignant  church.  Nichols,  in 
answering  the  fourth  article,  said  also,  that  he  had  more 
plainly  learned  the  truth  of  his  profession  by  the  doctrine 
set  forth  in  King  Edward  the  sixth's  time;  and  thereupon 
he  had  builded  his  faith,  and  would  continue  in  the  same 
to  his  life's  end;  God  assisting  him.  They  all,  in  reply- 
ing to  the  fifth,  acknowledged  having  greatly  misliked  and 
spoken  against  the  sacrifice  of  the  mass,  and  against  the 
sacrament  of  the  altar ;  affirming  that  they  would  not  come 
to  hear,  or  be  partakers  thereof,  because  they  believed  that 
they  were  set  forth  and  used  contrary  to  God's  word  and 
glory.  They  moreover  granted  that  they  had  spoken  against 
the  usurped  authority  of  the  bishop  of  Rome,  as  an  oppres- 
sor of  Christ's  church  and  gospel ;  and  that  he  ought  not 


VARIOUS    MARTYRS.  139 

to  have  any  authority  in  England.  For  all  which  sayings 
they  protested  they  were  no  whit  sorry,  but  rather  rejoiced 
and  were  glad.  They  answered  to  the  sixth  article,  that 
they  never  refused,  nor  did  then  refuse,  to  be  reconciled  to 
the  unity  of  Christ's  catholic  church  :  but  they  had,  and  did, 
and  so  ever  would  hereafter  utterly  refuse,  to  come  to  the 
church  of  Rome,  or  to  acknowledge  the  authority  of  the 
seat  thereof,  but  did  utterly  abhor  the  same  for  putting 
down  God's  book,  the  Bible,  and  setting  up  the  Babylonish 
mass,  with  all  other  of  Antichrist's  merchandize.  In  re- 
plying to  the  next  article,  Joyne  declared  that  the  cause  of 
his  refusing  to  be  partaker  of  their  trumpery  was,  for  that 
the  commandments  of  God  were  there  broken,  and  Christ's 
ordinances  changed  and  put  out,  and  the  bishop  of  Rome's 
ordinances  instead  thereof  put  in.  Lyster  affirmed  that  in 
the  sacrament  there  is  the  substance  of  bread  and  wine,  as 
well  after  the  words  of  consecration  as  before;  and  that 
there  is  not  in  the  same  the  very  body  and  blood  of  Christ, 
really,  substantially,  and  truly,  but  only  sacramentally,  and 
spiritually,  by  faith  in  the  faithful  receivers:  and  that  the 
mass  is  not  propitiatory  for  the  quick  and  the  dead,  but  mere 
idolatry  and  abomination. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day,  they  were  again  sum- 
moned, to  undergo  the  usual  assault  on  their  constancy. 
The  persecutors  found  how  truly  the  blood  of  the  martyrs 
became  the  seed  of  the  church ;  while  an  act  of  apostasy 
tended  to  the  disheartening  of  all  Christ's  people.  There- 
fore, they  laboured  the  more  diligently  to  win  a  revocation 
from  such  as  had  with  the  greatest  boldness  professed  their 
dissent  from  Romish  idolatry.  They  succeeded  with  a  man 
named  Roger  Grasbroke,  who  was  at  first  joined  with  these 
six  confessors;  but  they  all  remained  unmovably  fixed  on 
the  Rock,  which  is  Christ.  The  bishop,  therefore,  at  once 
condemned  them  all,  on  the  evening  of  the  day  when  first 
they  came  before  him  ;  and  procuring  the  queen's  writ, 
sent  them  back  to  Colchester,  where  they  were  burned  to- 
gether on  the  28th  of  April;  most  cheerfully  ending  their 
lives  to  the  glory  of  God's  holy  name,  and  the  great  en- 
couragement of  others. 

And  now  appears  another  variety,  displaying  both  the 
grace  of  God,  bestowed  without  respect  of  persons,  and  the 
horrible  cruelty  of  his  enemies,  whom  no  degree  or  kind 
of  human  misery  might  move  from  their  merciless  determi- 
nation to  hunt  out  of  the  world  every  soul  that  they  could  not 


140  HUGH    LAVEROCK JOHN    APPRICE. 

delude.  Hugh  Laverock,  a  painter,  sixty-eight  years  of 
age,  and  crippled  in  his  limbs,  with  John  Apprice,  a  poor 
man,  totally  blind,  were  accused  to  Bonner  and  the  other 
commissioners,  by  some  active  heretic-hunter.  On  the  first 
of  May  these  helpless  creatures  were  presented  before  the 
mitred  chief  inquisitor,  at  his  palace  in  London,  where 
he  objected  against  them  the  usual  articles;  to  which 
they  answered  in  effect  as  their  brethren  who  were  already 
slain  had  done.  They  were  then  remanded  to  prison,  until 
the  ninth  of  the  same  month  ;  when  they  were  produced  in 
the  consistory,  and  admonished  to  revoke  their  erroneous 
opinions  concerning  the  mass.  Laverock  said,  "  I  will 
stand  to  mine  answers,  and  to  that  I  have  confessed;  and 
I  cannot  find  in  the  scriptures  that  the  priests  should  lift 
up  over  their  heads  a  cake  of  bread."  Bonner  then  turned 
to  Apprice,  asking  what  he  would  say;  the  blind  man  an- 
swered, "  Your  doctrine  that  ye  set  forth  and  teach,  is  so 
agreeable  with  the  world,  and  embraced  of  the  same,  that 
it  cannot  be  agreeable  with  the  scripture  of  God.  And  ye 
are  not  of  the  catholic  church,  for  ye  make  laws  to  kill 
men,  and  make  the  queen  your  hangman." 

Bonner,  not  a  little  nettled,  as  it  seemed,  at  this  plain- 
ness of  speech,  ordered  them  to  be  immediately  brought 
after  him  to  Fulham,  where  he  was  going  to  dinner ;  and 
the  same  afternoon,  in  the  church,  publicly  pronounced  the 
definitive  sentence  of  condemnation  against  them;  and  so, 
delivering  them  into  the  hands  of  the  temporal  officer,  dis- 
patched them  out  of  his  own,  but  not  so  can  he  dispatch 
from  his  conscience,  before  the  judgment  seat  of  God,  the 
guilt  of  their  innocent  blood. 

On  the  fifteenth  of  May,  the  poor  men  were  taken  in  a 
cart  from  Newgate  to  Stratford-le-bow,  where  the  fire  was 
prepared  for  their  burning.  When  old  Laverock  was  safely 
chained  to  his  new  support,  the  stake,  he  threw  away  his 
crutches,  saying  to  his  fellow  martyr,  "  Be  of  good  com- 
fort, my  brother,  for  my  lord  of  London  is  our  good  phy- 
sician :  he  will  heal  us  both  shortly,  thee  of  thy  blindness, 
and  me  of  my  lameness."  The  flame  was  kindled,  and 
they  both  stood  quietly  in  it,  praising  God,  and  testifying  a 
lively  faith  in  Christ  Jesus,  until  the  burning  element  had 
done  its  work,  and  the  blind  man  was  enabled  to  see  his 
Saviour  for  himself,  and  the  lame  man,  without  impedi- 
ment, to  follow  the  Lamb  whithersoever  he  goeth. 

As  a  meet  supplement  to  this  wicked  butchery,  on  the 


KATHERINE  HUT JOAN  HORNS.         141 

very  next  day  after  it  three  poor  women  were  burned  in 
Smithfield.  Katherine  Hut,  Joan  Horns,  and  Eliza- 
beth Thackvel;  the  first  a  widow,  the  other  two  maids. 
Sir  John  Mordaunt  and  Mr.  Tyrrel  had  the  merit  of  deli- 
vering  them  into  Bonner's  hands.  Margaret  Ellis  was 
joined  with  them  in  the  same  accusation,  and  with  them 
also  condemned,  but  she  slept  in  the  Lord  before  she  could 
be  brought  from  her  prison  to  the  stake.  At  their  exami- 
nation they  showed  such  simplicity  and  ignorance  on  some 
points,  as  would  have  moved  any  judge  to  pity,  save  the 
wretch  who  presided;  for  when  Bonner  recited  the  second 
article,  they  answered  that  they  did  not  know  what  a  sa- 
crament was.  Hut  and  Thackvel  adding  that  matrimony, 
baptism,  and  the  Lord's  supper  were  sacraments  ordained 
in  the  church;  but  whether  the  other  specified  in  this  arti- 
cle be  sacraments,  as  they  heard  them  called,  ordained  by 
God  or  not,  they  could  not  tell.  Margaret  Ellis,  being  ex- 
amined separately,  as  indeed  ihey  all  were,  as  to  the  num- 
ber of  sacraments,  answered,  she  could  not  tell :  she  had 
heard  that  there  was  one  sacrament,  but  what  it  was  she 
did  not  know.  On  the  fourth  article  they  showed  a  happy 
knowledge;  for  Hut  remarked  that  though  at  fourteen  years 
of  age  she  was  of  the  faith  in  which  she  had  been  chris- 
tened, yet  it  was  a  dead  faith;  for  she  did  not  then  under- 
stand what  she  believed.  Horns  said  that  she  began  at 
eleven  years  of  age  to  learn  the  faith  set  forth  in  king  Ed- 
ward's days:  in  which  faith  and  religion  she  had  hitherto, 
and  then  did,  and  would  hereafter  continue,  God  so  assist- 
ing her.  To  the  fifth  article  they  all  replied  to  tliis  effect, 
that  as  touching  the  mass,  they  knew  no  goodness  in  it; 
and  as  touching  the  sacrament  of  the  altar,  they  believed 
Christ's  natural  body  to  be  in  heaven,  and  not  in  the  sacra- 
ment of  the  altar. 

As  to  the  see  of  Rome,  they  acknowledged  no  such  su- 
premacy in  that  see;  neither  had  they  any  thing  to  do 
therewith.  In  answering  the  sixth,  they  all  refused  to  be 
reconciled  or  united  to  the  church  of  Rome;  or  to  any 
other  church  contrary  to  that  wherein  they  then  stood, 
and  which  they  did  profess.  Katherine  Hut,  replying  to 
the  next,  said  that  the  reason  of  her  not  going  to  church 
was,  because  neither  the  service  in  Latin,  mass,  matins,  or 
evensong,  were  used  and  ministered  according  to  God's 
word;  and  furthermore,  that  the  mass  was  an  idol;  neither 
was  the  true  body  and  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  in  the  sacra- 


142  HUT HORNS THACKVEL. 

ment  of  the  altar,  as  they  made  men  believe.  She  also 
stated  that  she  was  of  the  jurisdiction  of  Canterbury,  not 
of  London.  How  little  that  weighed  with  Bonner,  the  case 
of  archdeacon  Philpot  had  proved. 

They  were  sent  back  to  prison  till  the  thirteenth  of  April, 
when  being  brought  up  for  final  judgment,  the  widow  Hut, 
standing  before  the  bishop,  boldly  and  constantly  stood  to 
her  former  confession,  neither  yielding  to  his  promises  nor 
cast  down  by  his  threats.  Being  required  to  say  her  mind 
respecting  the  sacrament,  and  to  return  to  the  catholic  faith, 
she  said,  "  I  deny  it  to  be  God,  because  it  is  a  dumb  God, 
and  made  with  men's  hands."  In  this  she  simply  persisted, 
and  received  her  sentence.  The  young  girl,  Horns,  in  like 
manner,  showed  herself  a  true  follower  and  martyr  of 
Christ.  When  urged  upon  the  subject  of  their  great  idol, 
and  pressed  to  acknowledge  the  wafer  God,  she  said,  "  If 
you  can  make  your  god  to  shed  blood,  or  to  show  any  con- 
dition of  a  true  and  lively  body,  then  will  I  believe  you: 
but  it  is  but  bread,  as  touching  the  substance  thereof,  and 
that  which  you  call  heresy  I  trust  to  serve  my  Lord  God 
in."  Concerning  the  Roman  see,  she  said,  "  My  lord,  I 
forsake  all  his  abominations  ;  and  from  them  good  Lord  de- 
liver us!"  From  this,  her  stable  and  constant  assertion, 
says  Fox,  who  most  tenderly  and  feelingly  relates  what  he 
very  probably  witnessed,  when  the  bishop  was  too  weak 
to  remove  her,  and  too  ignorant  to  convince  her,  he  knocked 
her  down  with  the  butcherly  axe  of  his  sentence.  And  so 
the  holy  virgin  and  martyr,  committed  to  the  shambles  of 
the  secular  sword,  was  offered  up  with  her  other  fellows,  a 
burnt  sacrifice  to  the  Lord,  in  the  savour  of  a  sweet  and 
pleasant  smell.  No  less  his  strength  and  grace  appeared 
in  the  other  maid,  Elizabeth  Thackvel,  whose  heart  and 
mind  the  Lord  had  so  confirmed  in  his  truth,  so  armed  with 
patience,  that  as  her  adversaries  could  by  no  sufiicient 
knowledge  of  scripture  convict  her  affirmation,  so  by  no 
forcible  attempts  they  could  remove  her  confession.  Where- 
upon she  standing  to  the  death,  being  in  like  sort  con- 
demned, by  the  same  unbishop-like  persecutor,  gave  her  life 
willingly  and  mildly  for  the  confirmation  and  sealing  up  of 
the  sincere  truth  of  God's  word. 

These  three  innocent  and  godly  women,  thus  falsely  and 
wrongfully  by  men  condemned,  for  the  just  quarrel  and 
cause  of  God's  gospel,  were  had  to  Smithfield,  and  there, 
cruelly  bound  to  the  stake,  gave  their  bodies  to  the  tor- 


THOMAS    DROWRY.  143 

mentors;  their  spirits  they  commended  to  God:  for  whose 
glory  they  were  willing  and  ready  to  sutler  whatsoever  the 
cruel  hands  of  their  enemies  should  work  against  them, 
dying  more  joyfully  in  the  flaming  fire  than  some  of  them 
that  burned  them  did,  peradventure,  in  their  beds.  Such 
a  Lord  is  God  ;  glorious  and  wonderful  in  all  his  saints. 

In  the  story  of  bishop  Hooper,  mention  was  made  of  a 
blind  boy,  who  earnestly  pressed  to  be  admitted  to  that 
blessed  martyr  shortly  before  he  suffered,  and  was  by  him 
confirmed   in  the  faith.     The   boy's  name  was  Thomas 
Drowry.     How  often,  or  how  long,  he  had  endured  im- 
prisonment for  the  truth's  sake,  is  not  known  :  but  on  his 
final  examination  he  was  brought  before  Dr.    Williams, 
chancellor  of  Gloucester,  sitting  judicially  with  the  register 
of  the  diocese  in  the  consistory,  near  the  south  door  of  the 
cathedral    church,  who    administered   the    usual   articles, 
chiefly    urging    that   on    transubstantiation,    and    saying, 
*'  Dost  thou  not  believe  that  after  the  words  of  consecration 
spoken  by  the  priest,  there  remaineth  the  very  real  body  of 
Christ  in  the  sacrament  of  the  altar?"  "  No,"  answered 
the  blind  boy,  "  that  I  do  not,"  "  Then,"  said  the  chancel- 
lor, "  thou  art  an  heretic,  and  shalt  be  burned.     But  who 
taught    thee   this    heresy]"     "  You,   master   chancellor." 
"  Where,  I  pray  thee?"    "  Even  in  yonder  place,"  replied 
the  boy,  turning,  and  pointing  with  his  hand  towards  where 
the  pulpit  stood.     The  chancellor  again  inquired,  "When 
did  I  teach   thee   so?"     Drowry  answered,  "  When  you 
preached  there  (naming  the  day)  a  sermon  to  all  men  as 
well  as  to  me,  upon  the  sacrament.     You  said,  the  sacra- 
ment was  to  be  received  spiritually,  by  faith,  and  not  car- 
nally and  really,  as  the  papists  have  heretofore  taught." 
The  shameless  apostate  answered,  "  Then  do  as  I  have  done, 
and  thou  shalt  live,  as  I  do,  and  escape  burning."     The 
blind  boy  said,  "  Though  you  can  so  easily  dispense  with 
yourself,  and   mock  with  God,  the  world,  and  your  con- 
science, yet  will  I  not  do  so."     "  Then  God  have  mercy 
upon  thee,"  rejoined  the  chancellor ;  "  for  I  will  read  the 
condemnation  sentence  against  thee."    "  God's  will  be  ful- 
filled !"  answered  the  young  martyr. 

Hereupon  the  register,  being  moved  with  the  scene,  stood 
up,  and  said  to  the  chancellor,  "  Fie,  for  shame,  man!  will 
you  read  the  sentence  against  him,  and  condemn  yourself? 
Away,  away,  and  substitute  some  other  to  give  sentence 
and  judgment."  "  No,  register,"  said  the  fearfully  harden- 


144  CROKER SPICER DENNY POOLE. 

ed  man;  "  I  will  obey  the  law,  and  give  sentence  myself, 
according  to  mine  office."  He  did  so ;  delivering  him  to 
the  secular  power,  who  on  the  very  same  day  led  the  blind 
boy  to  the  place  of  execution  at  Gloucester,  together  with 
one  Thomas  Croker,  a  poor  bricklayer,  condemned  also 
for  the  like  testimony  of  the  truth  :  when  both,  in  one  fire, 
most  constantly  and  joyfully  yielded  their  souls  into  the 
hands  of  the  Lord  Jesus. 

About  a  fortnight  after  this,  three  poor  men  were  immo- 
lated at  Beccles,  in  Suffolk ; — Thomas  Spicer,  John  Den- 
ny, and  Edmund  Poole.  Spicer  was  a  youth  of  nineteen, 
taken  from  his  bed  at  day-break,  in  the  house  of  his  mas- 
ter, at  Winston  ;  and  was  with  the  other  two  brought  before 
Dunning,  the.  chancellor  of  Norwich.  The  articles  exhi- 
bited against  them  and  others  in  that  diocese,  charged  them 
with  disbelief  of  the  pope's  supremacy;  and  of  holy  bread, 
holy  water,  ashes,  palms,  and  the  like :  with  disbelief  in 
transubstantiation;  with  holding  the  worship  of  the  wafer 
to  be  idolatry;  with  making  the  Lord's  supper  a  comme- 
morative ordinance ;  with  refusing  to  follow  the  cross  in 
procession,  or  to  confess  to  a  priest;  and,  lastly,  with  hold- 
ing that  man  has  in  himself  no  free  will.  All  these  they 
confessed ;  and  withstood  the  efforts  of  Dunning  to  turn 
them  from  the  faith,  who,  practised  and  delighting  in  cru- 
elty as  he  had  long  been,  is  recorded  to  have  burst  into 
tears  while  earnestly  reasoning  with  them  ;  and  when  Mings 
the  register,  hastened  him  to  pronounce  their  condemna- 
tion, he  could  scarcely  read  the  sentence  for  weeping.  The 
following  day  they  were  burned  at  Beccles;  although  it  was 
not  possible  for  the  writ  to  have  come  down  from  London, 
where  the  lord  chancellor  then  was:  but  the  laws  of  man 
were  little  regarded,  in  butchering  Christians  for  obeying 
the  laws  of  God. 

The  martyrs  coming  to  the  stake,  having  prayed,  recited 
the  apostles'  creed;  and  when  they  came  to  the  article, 
"  the  holy  catholic  church,"  Sir  John  Silliard,  the  sheriff 
who  superintended  their  execution,  exclaimed  "  That  is  well 
said:  I  am  glad  to  hear  you  say  you  do  believe  the  cath- 
olic church.  That  is  the  best  word  I  have  heard  of  you 
yet."  To  this  Poole  answered,  that  though  they  believed 
the  catholic  church,  yet  did  they  not  believe  in  the  popish 
church,  which  was,  he  said,  no  part  of  Christ's  catholic 
church,  and  therefore  no  part  of  their  belief.  They  were 
then  bound  to  the  slake,  and  the  fire  kindled ;  when  they 


CASE    OF    GREGORY    CROW.  1  45 

began  to  praise  God  in  so  loud  and  joyful  a  voice  as 
amazed  all  who  heard  them.  A  wretch  named  Bacon, 
a  noted  persecutor,  who  stood  by,  ordered  a  fagot  to  be 
thrown  at  them,  to  stop  the  knaves'  breath,  as  he  said;  but 
they,  not  regarding  this  cruelty,  continued  their  praises  and 
thanksgivings  to  the  end. 

A  violent  persecution  was  again  at  this  time  carried  on 
in  the  diocese  of  Norwich  ;  so  that  besides  those  who  were 
compelled  to  yield,  and  those  who  proved  faithful  unto 
death,  there  were  no  fewer  than  thirteen  persons  driven  out 
of  the  small  town  of  Winston,  and  twenty-one  from  Men- 
dlesham,  to  wander  as  fugitives  wheresoever  they  might  find 
a  hiding-place.  Among  them  was  a  gentlewoman  of  eighty- 
four  years  old,  with  her  two  servants  ;  and  a  poor  man  with 
his  wife  and  five  children.  Their  usual  answer,  when  re- 
buked and  persecuted  for  declaring  their  principles,  was, 
that  they  acknowledged,  confessed,  and  believed,  and  there- 
fore must  speak  :  that  their  tribulation  was  God's  good 
will  and  providence,  whose  judgments  were  right  to  pun- 
ish them  and  others  for  their  sins ;  and  that  of  very  faith- 
fulness and  mercy,  God  had  caused  them  to  be  troubled, 
so  that  one  hair  of  their  heads  should  not  perish  before  the 
time;  but  all  things  should  work  unto  the  best  to  them  that 
love  God :  that  Jesus  Christ  was  their  life  and  only  right- 
eousness; and  that  only  by  faith  in  him  and  for  his  sake, 
all  good  things  were  freely  given  them,  together  with  for- 
giveness of  sins,  and  life  everlasting. 

Many  of  these  exiles  were  of  considerable  substance, 
and  had  large  possessions,  which  they  freely  abandoned  for 
Christ's  sake  and  the  gospel's  :  and  surely  ihey  do  not  now 
regret  having  so  done. 

We  may  now  rest  for  a  little  space  from  the  recital  and 
contemplation  of  these  barbarities,  to  record  an  event  which 
happened  about  this  time,  to  a  poor  faithful  labouring  man 
named  Gregory  Crow,  He  embarked  at  Maiden,  in  a 
small  coasting  vessel,  for  Kent,  where  he  expected  to  ob- 
tain some  work  ;  but  the  weather  being  foul,  the  boat  was 
driven  on  a  sand-bank,  so  that  the  men  were  obliged  to 
cling  to  the  mast,  while  the  water  washed  away  from  the 
vessel  all  that  would  float.  Among  the  rest,  Crow  saw  his 
Testament  swimming  away,  which  he  caught  and  placed  in 
his  bosom.  Within  an  hour  after,  the  ebbing  tide  left  the 
boat  dry;  but  she  was  so  broken  as  to  be  useless,  and  the 
little  party,  two  men  and  a  boy,  got  upon  the  sand-bank, 

MAUTYROLOGY. VOL.  II.  13 


146  CASE  OF  GREGORY  CROW. 

where  they  prayed  to  God  to  send  some  ship  to  succour 
them,  for  they  knew  that  in  half  an  hour  the  spot  would 
again  be  overflowed;  and  they  were  ten  miles  from  the 
land.  Here  they  found  their  chest,  containing  all  Crow's 
fortune,  five  pounds  six  shillings  and  eightpence,  which  the 
other  man  who  found  it,  delivered  to  him :  but  Crow  at 
once  cast  it  into  the  sea,  saying,  "  If  the  Lord  will  save  our 
lives,  he  will  provide  us  a  living."  The  tide  now  advanced  ; 
and  the  poor  creatures  mounting  the  mast,  their  only  refuge, 
clung  to  it  by  their  arms  and  legs  for  the  space  of  ten 
hours;  the  boy,  weary  and  exhausted,  fell  off,  and  was 
drowned. 

When  the  water  subsided  again.  Crow  proposed  to  take 
down  the  mast  and  to  sit  upon  it,  as  it  might  please  God 
that  they  should  drift  into  the  way  of  some  ship,  that  would 
take  them  up.  They  accordingly  did  so;  and  at  ten  o'clock 
at  night  the  tide  bore  up  the  mast,  which  floated  with  the 
two  men  upon  it :  but  Crow's  companion  died  the  next 
night,  and  he  remained  alone,  driving  up  and  down  among 
the  troubled  waves,  not  daring  to  sleep  lest  they  should 
beat  him  ofl^.  It  was  on  Tuesday  that  the  boat  was  wrecked ; 
on  the  Friday  following  a  vessel  bound  to  Antwerp  from 
Lee,  was  obliged  by  stress  of  weather  to  go  out  of  her 
course;  and  about  six  o'clock  in  the  evening  they  descried 
an  object  afar  off,  which  they  took  to  be  one  of  the  small 
buoys,  laid  by  fishermen  with  their  hooks.  Some  of  the 
men  proposed  to  go  and  have  the  fish :  but  captain  Morse, 
who  afterwards  wrote  the  story,  said  to  the  helmsman, 
"  Keep  your  course  away;  for  we  shall  but  hinder  the  fish- 
ermen, and  have  no  fish  neither."  The  helmsman  obeyed; 
but  after  regarding  the  object  some  time,  said,  "  Methinks, 
master,  it  is  a  man."  The  rest  thought  otherwise  and  they 
went  on. 

Poor  Crow,  seeing  the  ship  steering  away  from  him, 
and  being  ready  to  perish  with  fatigue,  watching,  and  fa- 
mine, and  miserably  beaten  too  by  the  billows,  took  off' his 
cap,  holding  it  as  high  as  he  possibly  could,  shaking  it ; 
and  the  steersman  perceiving  him,  declared  that  he  plainly 
saw  a  man's  arm,  in  which  the  others  agreeing,  the  cap- 
tain instantly  made  for  the  spot,  and  took  him  up ;  a 
pitiable  object,  sodden  with  the  waters,  till  his  flesh  was 
like  that  of  a  drowned  corpse,  bruised  all  over,  and  his 
eyes,  nose,  and  mouth  nearly  closed  up  with  the  incrusta- 
tion of  salt,  caused  by  the  weather  and  the  heat  of  his  skin. 


VARIOUS    MARTYRS.  147 

The  moment  he  found  himself  on  board,  he  eagerly  put  his 
hand  into  his  bosom ;  on  which  a  bystander  asked  him  if 
he  had  any  money  there.  "  No,"  said  he,  "  I  have  a  book 
here;  I  think  it  be  wet;"  and  so,  anxiously  drew  out  his 
Testament,  giving  it  to  them  to  dry.  After  a  good  night's 
rest.  Crow,  greatly  recovered  from  the  effects  of  his  four 
days'  dreadful  peril,  buffetings  and  starvation,  related  his 
story:  which  being  repeated  at  Antwerp  by  the  good  cap- 
tain,  excited  great  interest  among  the  people  there,  who 
supplied  him  with  clothes  and  money.  So  that  he  who 
cast  away  his  earthly  treasure,  and  saved  his  Bible,  lost 
nothing  even  of  this  world's  good  thereby.  Fox  concludes 
this  narrative  by  remarking  :  "  In  this  story,  this  under- 
stand, good  reader,  which  rightly  may  be  supposed,  that  if 
this  poor  man  thus  found  and  preserved  in  the  sea  with  a 
New  Testament  in  his  bosom,  had  had  instead  of  that  a  pix 
with  a  consecrated  host  about  him,  no  doubt  it  had  been 
rung  ere  this  time  all  Christendom  over,  for  a  miracle,  so 
far  as  the  pope  hath  any  land." 

On  the  last  day  of  May,  William  Sleck,  being  a  pri- 
soner in  the  King's  Bench,  for  the  Lord's  truth,  died  there: 
of  whom  this  testimony  is  given  to  his  faithfulness,  that  he 
was  put  into  the  ground  at  the  back  of  the  prison,  in  the 
same  fashion  that  a  dog  would  have  been,  by  those  who, 
as  the  martyrologist  says,  thought  him  not  worthy  to  come 
within  their  pope-holy  churchyards. 

The  next  slaughter  took  place  at  Lewes ;  where  four 
men  were  burned  together.  Thomas  Harland,  a  car- 
penter, John  Oswald,  husbandman,  Thomas  Avington, 
turner,  and  another  poor  man  named  Thomas  Read.  Har- 
land said  he  had  not  come  to  church  since  the  mass  was  re- 
stored ;  and  the  service  being  in  Latin,  he  was  never  a  whit 
the  better  for  it.  Oswald  refused  to  answer  any  article, 
unless  his  accusers  were  brought  face  to  face  with  him;  he 
remarked  that  fire  and  fagots  could  not  make  him  afraid: 
but  as  the  good  preachers  which  were  in  king  Edward's 
lime  had  suffered  and  gone  before,  so  was  he  ready  to  suf- 
fer and  come  after;  and  would  be  glad  thereof  After  long 
imprisonment  in  the  King's  Bench,  they  were  sent  to  Lewes, 
and  committed  to  the  flames. 

A  faithful  minister,  named  William  Adherall,  and 
John  Clement,  a  wheelwright,  died  in  the  King's  Bench, 
prepared,  had  God  so  willed  it,  to  suffer  fire  for  his  name's 
sake. 


148  VARIOUS    MARTYRS. 

At  Leicester,  a  godly  young  man,  servant  to  a  merchant, 
whose  name  is  not  mentioned,  was  persecuted,  imprisoned, 
and  finally  burned  for  confessing  Christ. 

Essex,  which  had  already  sent  so  many  martyrs  to  tes- 
tify and  sutler  for  the  truth,  now  yielded  no  fewer  than 
thirteen  to  feed  one  dreadful  blaze.  The  heart  trembles  at 
such  details ;  but  these  things  are  recorded  for  our  solemn 
warning;  and  on  our  heads  will  be  the  consequences  if 
they  be  repeated  in  vain.  The  names  of  these  victims 
were  H.  Adlington,  a  sawyer;  L.  Parnam,  a  smith;  H. 
Wye,  a  brewer;  W.  Hallywel,  a  smith;  J.  Bowyer,  a 
weaver;  G,  Scarles,  a  tailor;  E.  Hurst,  a  labourer;  L. 
Cawch,  a  broker;  R.  Jackson,  a  servant;  J.  Derrifall, 
a  labourer;  and  J.  Routh,  the  same;  with  two  women, 
Elizabeth  Pepper,  wife  of  a  weaver,  and  Agnes  George, 
the  wife  of  a  husbandman,  whose  former  wife  was  burned 
also  at  Colchester.  Of  these  Henry  Wye  had  been  servant 
to  Higbed,  the  martyr,  which  circumstance  led  to  his  first 
being  suspected.  Adlington  coming  to  Newgate  to  speak 
with  a  friend  who  was  then  prisoner  there  for  the  testimony 
of  Jesus  Christ,  was  seized  on  suspicion  of  holding  the  same 
doctrines.  They  all  answered  clearly  and  decidedly  to 
the  articles,  holding  fast  the  faith  which  they  professed. 
Some  circumstances  attended  this  case,  of  aggravated  atro- 
city; for  after  Bonner  had  pronounced  their  condemnation, 
when  they  were  taken  to  Stratford-le-Bow,  the  place  of 
their  martyrdom,  they  were  separated  into  two  parties,  and 
each  was  told  by  the  sheriff  that  the  other  party  had  re- 
canted; to  persuade  them  to  do  the  same.  He  received, 
however,  the  same  answer  from  all,  that  their  faith  was  not 
builded  on  man,  but  on  Christ  crucified.  Finding  his  pur- 
pose defeated  by  their  constancy,  he  led  them  without  fur- 
ther delay  to  the  immense  pile  prepared  for  this  awful  sa- 
crifice of  human  life  to  the  great  Antichrist  of  Rome,  where 
the  eleven  men  were  fastened  by  long  chains  to  three 
stakes,  which  they  embraced  and  kissed,  all  together  pray- 
ing earnestly  to  God,  and  rejoicing  that  none  were  missing 
from  their  blessed  company,  who  had  all  been  so  foully 
belied  to  each  other  by  the  sheriff.  The  two  women  had 
neither  stake  nor  chain,  but  were  left  loose  among  the 
fagots,  where  they  stood  as  quietly  as  though  they  had 
been  fettered ;  the  precious  bands  of  love  which  bound 
them  to  Christ  and  to  each  other,  being  stronger  than  links 
of  iron.     But  this  was  not  all:  Elizabeth  Pepper  was  ad- 


THIRTEEN    MARTYRS.  149 

vanced  in  pregnancy,  which  she  mentioned  to  a  woman  who 
assisted  her  to  prepare  for  the  fire;  and  on  being  asked 
why  she  had  not  told  it  to  the  murderers,  she  replied, 
"  Why,  they  knew  it  well  enough."  Their  bodies  were  all 
consumed  together;  and  thirteen  spirits  joined  at  once  the 
noble  army  of  martyrs  in  heaven. 

Three  others  had  been  condemned  with  them,  and  were 
ready  to  go  to  the  same  death :  but  for  some  reason,  car- 
dinal Pole  sent  them  a  dispensation  for  their  lives,  although 
it  does  not  appear  that  they  recanted.  Their  names  stand 
with  the  foregoing  thirteen  at  the  foot  of  a  confession  of 
faith  which  they  all  signed,  in  consequence  of  Fecknam 
having  falsely  reported  in  a  sermon  of  his,  that  they  greatly 
differed  from  each  other  in  their  doctrine.  In  this  docu- 
ment, after  having  contradicted  Fecknam's  calumny,  and 
declared  their  perfect  unity  and  agreement,  they  state  the 
five  following  points  in  their  belief  "  I.  That  there  are 
but  two  sacraments  in  Christ's  church,  that  is,  the  sacra- 
ment of  baptism,  and  the  Lord's  supper.  For  in  these  is 
contained  the  faith  of  Christ's  church  ;  that  is,  the  two  tes- 
taments, the  law  and  the  gospel.  The  effect  of  the  law  is 
repentance;  and  the  effect  of  the  gospel  remission  of  sins. 
II.  We  believe  that  there  is  a  visible  church,  wherein  the 
word  of  God  is  preached,  and  the  holy  sacraments  duly 
ministered,  visible  to  the  wicked  world,  although  it  be  not 
credited;  and  by  the  death  of  saints  confirmed;  as  it  was 
in  the  time  of  Elias  the  prophet,  as  well  as  now.  III.  The 
see  of  Rome  is  the  see  of  Antichrist,  the  congregation  of  the 
wicked,  whereof  the  pope  is  head,  under  the  devil.  IV.  The 
mass  is  not  only  a  profanation  of  the  Lord's  supper,  but 
also  a  blasphemous  idol.  V.  God  is  neither  spiritually 
nor  corporeally  in  the  sacrament  of  the  altar  (meaning  the 
elements) ;  and  there  remaineth  no  substance  in  the  same, 
but  only  the  substance  of  bread  and  wine.  For  these  arti- 
cles of  our  belief,  we  being  condemned  to  die,  do  willingly 
offer  our  corruptible  bodies  to  be  dissolved  in  the  fire:  all 
with  one  voice  assenting  and  consenting  thereunto,  and  in 
no  point  dissenting  or  disagreeing  from  any  of  our  former 
articles.  Apparent  also  let  it  be,  and  known,  that  being 
of  the  former  articles  before  the  bloody  bishop  examined, 
the  said  day  and  time,  we  affirmed  to  believe  all  that  he  or 
they  would  prove  by  the  scriptures.  But  he  said  that  he 
would  not  stand  to  prove  it  with  heretics;  but  said  they 
themselves  were  the  holv  church,  and  that  we  ought  to  be- 

13* 


150  BERNARD FOSTER lAVVSON. 

lieve  them,  or  else  to  be  cut  off  like  withered  branches." 
To  this  were  subscribed  the  names  of  the  thirteen  martyrs, 
with  those  of  Thomas  Freeman,  William  Stannard,  and 
William  Adams:  the  three  who  were  rescued  by  the  inter- 
vention of  Pole. 

Three  of  Christ's  imprisoned  people  died  in  the  King's 
Bench  within  two  days,  named  Parret,  Hunt,  and  Norice; 
of  whom  it  is  recorded  that  Hunt  was  intentionally  starved 
to  death.  All  were  buried  with  the  usual  dishonour  put  on 
the  bodies  of  those  who  believed. 

At  St,  Edmund's  Bury,  Dr.  Hopkins,  bishop  of  Norwich, 
sent  three  to  the  fire :  Roger  Bernard,  Adam  Foster, 
and  Robert  Lawson.  Bernard,  a  poor  labourer,  was  of 
a  very  bold  spirit;  and  when  asked  by  the  bishop  whether 
he  had  been  to  the  priest  at  Easter,  to  be  shriven,  and  whe- 
ther he  had  received  the  blessed  sacrament  of  the  altar  or 
no,  answered,  "  No :  I  have  not  been  with  the  priest,  nor 
confessed  myself  unto  him ;  but  I  have  confessed  my  sins 
to  Almighty  God,  and  I  trust  he  hath  forgiven  me;  where- 
fore I  shall  not  need  to  go  to  the  priest  for  such  matters, 
who  cannot  help  himself."  "  Surely,  Bernard,"  said  the 
bishop,  "  thou  must  needs  go  and  confess  thyself  unto  him." 
"  That  shall  I  not  do,  by  God's  grace,  while  I  live,"  replied 
Bernard.  The  bishop  exclaimed,  "  What  a  stout  burly 
heretic  is  this !  how  malapertly  he  answereth  I"  "  My 
lord,"  said  Bernard,  "  it  grieveth  me  no  whit,  I  thank  God, 
to  be  called  heretic  at  your  hands  :  for  so  your  fathers 
called  the  prophets  and  confessors  of  Christ  long  before  the 
time." 

At  these  words,  the  bishop  rose  up  in  great  heat,  bidding 
Bernard  follow  him.  He  then  went  and  kneeled  down  be- 
fore what  they  called  the  sacrament  of  the  altar;  and  in 
the  midst  of  his  prayers,  looked  back,  and  asked  Bernard 
why  he  did  not  come  and  do  the  same.  He  replied,  "  I 
cannot  tell  why  I  should  do  so."  "  Why,  thou  vile  fellow, 
whom  seest  thou  yonder?"  asked  the  bishop, pointing  to  the 
pix  over  the  altar.  "  I  see  nobody  there  :  do  you,  my  lord?" 
"Why,  naughty  man,"  cried  the  bishop  again,  "dost  thou 
not  see  thy  Maker?"  "  My  Maker  !  no,  I  see  nothing  but  a 
few  clouts,  hanging  together  in  a  heap."  Thereupon,  the 
bishop  rose  up  in  sore  displeasure,  commanding  the  gaoler 
to  take  him  away,  and  to  lay  irons  enough  on  him  ;  "  for," 
said  he,  "  I  will  tame  him  ere  he  go  from  me,  I  trow." 
Bernard  vi^as  then  led  away  and  fettered,  until  the  next  day, 


JOHN    FORTUNE.  151 

when,  being  brought  up  again,  the  bishop  asked  him  if  he 
did  not  remember  himself  since  the  day  before.  "  Yes,  my 
lord,"  said  he,  "  I  have  remembered  myself  very  well ;  for 
the  same  man  I  was  yesterday,  I  am  this  day,  and  I  hope 
shall  be,  all  the  days  of  my  life,  concerning  the  matter  you 
talked  with  me  of."  Then  one  of  the  guards  standing  by, 
said,  "  My  lord,  I  pray  you  trouble  not  yourself  any  more 
with  him,  but  let  me  have  the  examining  of  him ;  I  shall 
handle  him  after  another  sort,  I  trow,  and  make  him  a  fair 
child  ere  he  go,  you  shall  see."  The  prisoner  was  imme- 
diately delivered  over  to  the  care  of  this  new  teacher,  who 
took  him  to  an  inn,  where  a  number  of  priests  were  assem- 
bled, who  began  by  flattering  and  persuading  him  with  all 
the  pleasant  and  enticing  words  they  could  command  :  but 
the  Lord  so  assisted  the  poor  good  man,  that  they  could 
nothing  prevail.  They  then  had  recourse  to  threats  of 
whipping,  putting  him  in  the  stocks,  burning  him,  and  all 
that  they  thought  might  terrify  him,  making  a  wonderful 
to  do;  but  he  said,  "Friends,  I  am  not  better  than  my 
master,  Christ,  and  the  prophets,  which  your  fathers  served 
after  such  sort ;  and  I  for  his  name's  sake  am  content  to 
suffer  the  like  if  God  shall  so  permit ;  trusting  that  he  will 
strengthen  me  in  the  same  according  to  his  promise,  in  spite 
of  the  devil  and  all  his  ministers."  Finding  it  impossible 
to  overcome  him,  they  exclaimed,  "  Behold  a  right  scholar 
of  John  Fortune  ;"  whom  they  then  had  in  prison.  He  was 
taken  back  to  the  bishop,  who  immediately  condemned  him 
for  a  heretic,  and  delivered  him  to  the  secular  power.  Fos- 
ter was  a  husbandman,  and  Lawson  a  weaver:  they  were 
both  sentenced  in  the  same  cause,  and  taken  to  their  death 
with  Bernard,  the  eldest  of  them  being  but  thirty  years  of 
age.  On  coming  to  the  stake,  they  prayed  together,  while 
the  fire  was  preparing;  and  ended  their  lives  in  such  tri- 
umphant joy,  amid  the  torments  of  the  burning  flame,  that 
it  ministered  no  small  comfort  and  encouragement  to  the 
lovers  of  the  gospel. 

John  Fortune,  to  whom  the  priests  compared  Bernard, 
was  a  blacksmith  at  Thirtlesham  in  Suffolk,  whom  they 
had  lately  had  in  examination  before  them,  and  whom  they 
found  so  zealous  and  ardent  in  spirit,  so  ready  in  the  scrip- 
tures, in  Christ's  cause  so  stout  and  valiant,  and  in  his  an- 
swers so  marvellous,  that  none  could  move  him ;  nor  was 
he  less  patient  in  his  wrongful  suffering,  than  sound  and 
constant  in  doctrine. 


152  JOHN    FORTUNE. 

When  before  Parker  and  Foster,  two  of  the  bishop's  offi° 
cials,  he  displayed  great  point,  as  well  as  intrepidity  in  his 
answers.  Parker  asked  him  how  he  believed  in  the  cath- 
olic faith :  he  replied  by  asking  in  turn,  what  faith  he 
meant?  whether  the  faith  that  Stephen  had,  or  the  faith  of 
them  who  put  Stephen  to  death  1  "  What  a  naughty  fel- 
low is  this,"  cried  Parker :  "  you  shall  see,  anon,  he  will 
deny  the  blessed  sacrament  of  the  altar."  Foster  also  re- 
proached him,  and  then  inquired  his  opinion  of  the  blessed 
mass  :  to  which  he  gave  no  reply.  When  rebuked  for  this, 
he  said,  "  Silence  is  a  good  answer  to  a  foolish  question." 
After  declaring  that  he  knew  no  sacrament  of  the  altar,  be- 
cause no  such  thing  was  written  in  God's  book,  "  Then  you 
will  not  believe  unwritten  verities  ?"  said  Parker.  He  an- 
swered, "  I  will  believe  that  those  unwritten  verities  which 
agree  with  the  written  verities  be  true ;  but  those  unwritten 
verities  that  be  of  your  own  making,  and  invented  of  your 
own  brain,  I  do  not  believe."  Foster  said,  "Well,  you 
shall  be  whipped  and  burned  for  this  gear,  I  trow."  He 
replied,  "  If  you  knew  how  these  words  do  rejoice  my 
heart,  you  would  not  have  spoken  them."  "  Why,  thou 
fool,  dost  thou  rejoice  in  whipping?"  asked  Foster.  "Yes; 
for  it  is  written  in  the  scriptures  that  Christ  sailh,  Thou 
shalt  be  whipped  for  my  name's  sake  ;  and  since  the  sword 
of  tyranny  came  into  your  hands,  I  heard  of  none  that  was 
whipped.  Happy  were  I,  if  I  had  the  maidenhead  of  this 
persecution  !"  "  Away  with  him,"  they  cried  ;  "  for  he  is 
ten  times  worse  than  Samuel."  His  second  examination 
was  before  the  bishop,  who  asked  him  if  he  did  not  believe 
in  the  catholic  church  :  he  said.  Yes,  that  church  of  which 
Christ  is  the  head.  Did  he  not  believe  the  pope  to  be  su- 
preme head  of  the  church?  "  No,"  he  said,  "  Christ  was 
the  head  of  the  true  church."  "  So  I  believe  also,"  observed 
the  bishop,  "  but  the  pope  is  God's  vicar  upon  earth,  and 
the  head  of  the  church ;  and  I  believe  that  he  hath  power 
to  forgive  sins  also."  Fortune  said,  "  The  pope  is  but  a 
man;  and  the  prophet  David  saith,  that  '  no  man  can  deli- 
ver his  brother,  or  make  agreement  for  him  unto  God  :  for 
it  cost  more  to  redeem  their  souls,  so  that  he  must  let  that 
alone  for  ever.' "  To  this  the  bishop  could  only  answer 
by  asserting  that  like  the  bell-wether  to  the  flock,  and  the 
queen-bee  to  the  hive,  so  is  the  pope  to  the  true  church. 
The  blacksmith  pressed  him  hard  with  scripture,  against 
their  doctrines  and  ceremonies  :  but  though  he  quoted  texts 


JOHN    CARELESS.  153 

correctly,  the  bishop  gave  him  the  lie,  declared  there  were 
no  such  words  in  the  Bible;  and  in  a  rage  remanded  him 
to  prison. 

Next  day,  he  was  questioned  upon  his  articles  ;  he  gave 
them  scripture  again;  and  when  the  bishop  boasted  that 
he  was  appointed  by  law  to  teach,  and  demanded  obedience, 
Fortune  reminded  him  how  they  had  burned  up  the  true 
bishops  and  preachers.  When  charged  with  resisting  the 
higher  powers,  he  said,  "  I  resist  not  the  higher  powers 
concerning  my  body;  but  I  must  resist  your  evil  doctrine 
wherewith  you  would  infect  my  soul."  Respecting  the 
wafer,  he  said,  "  If  it  be  not  God  before  the  consecration, 
it  is  not  God  after:  for  God  is  without  beginning,  and  with- 
out ending."  He  also  declared  the  deified  wafer  to  be  the 
god  Mauzzim  that  robbeth  God  of  his  honour.  So  sorely 
were  they  galled  by  his  answers,  that  they  could  not  hear 
him  to  the  end  of  the  articles,  but  sent  him  away  till  the 
morrow. 

On  that  occasion,  in  answer  to  the  bishop's  violent  threats 
of  burning  him,  he  objected  to  being  judged  by  him  ;  quot- 
ing the  civil  law,  that  no  perjured  person  should  sit  in  judg- 
ment; whereas,  he  said,  the  bishop  was  perjured,  having 
taken  the  oath  against  the  pope's  supremacy  in  Henry's 
days.  Finally,  he  rejected  the  worship  of  the  wafer,  as 
being  contrary  to  the  words  of  God's  book. 

Whether  Fortune  was  burned,  or  died  in  prison  of  hard 
usage,  is  not  correctly  known.  His  condemnation  is  re- 
corded in  the  bishop's  register  at  Norwich ;  and  it  is  cer- 
tain that  he  never  recanted.  Fox  believes  that  he  was 
burned  ;  but  of  his  right  to  be  numbered  among  the  mar- 
tyrs, there  is  no  doubt. 

One  of  the  most  remarkable  instances  of  divine  know- 
ledge imparted  to  a  man  of  lowly  rank,  is  the  case  of  John 
Careless  ;  who,  being  but  a  weaver,  proves  by  his  beau- 
tiful letters,  that  he  was  not  a  whit  behind  the  chiefest  of 
God's  dear  servants  in  the  graces  of  the  Spirit,  or  in  the 
gift  of  expressing  his  devotional  feelings.  He  was  greatly 
beloved  by  Bradford,  Philpot,  and  others  of  the  Lord's  true 
martyrs ;  and  proved  a  mighty  strengthener  of  the  afflicted 
saints.  In  the  depth  of  his  views  he  much  resembled  Law- 
rence Saunders  ;  as  also  in  the  fervency  of  his  devout  spi- 
rit. It  pleased  God  to  spare  him  the  trial  of  a  fiery  death, 
which  he  was  most  fully  bent  to  undergo,  by  taking  him  to 
himself  while  yet  in  the  prison  of  the  King's  Bench:  but  his 


?54  JOHN    CARELESS. 

name  is  enrolled  among  the  faithful  martyrs;  and  doubt- 
less their  crown  is  also  his. 

He  was  a  native  of  Coventry,  where  also  he  followed  his 
calling.  His  examinations  before  Dr.  Martin  are  not  fully 
recorded  ;  but  a  few  passages  may  show  the  strong  assur- 
ance of  faith  wherein  he  stood.  Dr.  Martin,  after  some 
prefatory  remarks,  said  to  him  that  he  was  a  handsome 
man,  and  it  was  pity  but  he  should  do  well,  and  save  that 
which  God  had  bought.  Careless  answered,  "  I  thank 
your  good  mastership  most  heartily;  and  I  put  you  out  of 
doubt  that  I  am  most  sure  and  certain  of  my  salvation  by 
Jesus  Christ;  so  that  my  soul  is  safe  already,  whatsoever 
nains  my  body  suffer  here  for  a  little  time."  "  Yea,  mar- 
ry," returned  Martin,  jeeringly,  "  you  say  truth.  For  thou 
art  so  predestinate  to  life  that  thou  must  not  perish;  in 
whatsoever  opinion  thou  dost  die."  Careless  rejoined, 
"  That  God  doth  predestinate  me  to  eternal  life  in  Jesus 
Christ,  I  am  most  certain ;  and  even  so  I  am  sure  that  his 
Holy  Spirit,  wherewith  I  am  sealed,  will  so  preserve  me 
from  all  heresies  and  evil  opinions,  that  I  shall  die  in  none 
at  ail."  "  Go  to,"  said  Martin,  "  let  me  hear  your  faith  in 
predestination ;  for  that  shall  be  written  also."  "  Your 
mastership  shall  pardon  me  herein,"  replied  Careless,  "  for 
you  said  yourself  erewhile,  that  you  had  no  commission  to 
examine  my  conscience.  I  will  trouble  myself  with  an- 
swering no  more  matters  than  I  needs  must,  until  I  come 
before  them  that  shall  have  more  authority  to  examine  me." 
However,  on  being  further  pressed,  and  on  condition  that 
his  exact  words  should  be  taken  down,  he  proceeded  to 
state  his  views  :  "  I  believe  that  God  Almighty,  our  most 
dear  loving  Father,  of  his  great  mercy  and  infinite  good- 
ness through  Jesus  Christ,  did  elect  and  appoint  in  him, 
before  the  foundation  of  the  earth  was  laid,  a  church,  or 
congregation,  which  he  doth  continually  guide  and  govern 
by  his  grace  and  Holy  Spirit,  so  that  not  one  of  them  shall 
ever  finally  perish."  When  this  was  written  Martin  read 
it,  and  said,  "Why,  who  will  deny  this?"  Careless  repli- 
ed, "  If  your  mastership  do  allow  it,  and  other  learned 
men  when  they  shall  see  it,  I  have  my  heart's  desire." 
"  And  do  you  hold  none  otherwise  than  is  there  written  ?" 
asked  Martin.  "  No,  verily,  nor  ever  did."  Martin  turn- 
ed to  the  scribe,  saying,  "Write  what  he  saith,  otherwise 
he  holdeth  not.  It  was  told  me,  also,  that  thou  dost  affirm 
that  Christ  did  not  die  effectually  for  all  men."     He  an- 


JOHN    CARELESS.  155 

swered,  "Whatsoever  hath  been  told  you,  is  not  much  ma- 
terial to  me.  Let  the  tellers  of  such  tales  come  before  my 
face,  and  I  hope  to  make  them  answer.  For  indeed  I  do 
believe  that  Christ  did  effectually  die  for  all  those  that  do 
effectually  repent  and  believe,  and  for  no  other."  Martin 
then  asked  him  what  was  Trew's  faith  of  predestination : 
whether  he  did  not  believe  that  all  men  were  predestinate, 
and  that  none  should  be  damned  ?  Careless  replied  that  he 
did  not.  "  How  then  ?"  said  Martin.  "  Truly  I  think  he 
doth  believe  as  your  mastership  and  the  rest  of  the  clergy 
do  believe  of  predestination ;  that  we  be  elected  in  respect 
of  our  good  works,  and  so  long  elected  as  we  do  ihem,  and 
no  longer."  Martin  directed  the  scribe,  "  Write  what  he 
saith ;  that  his  fellow  Trew  believeth  of  predestination  as 
the  papists  do  believe."  Careless  interrupted,  "Ah,  master 
doctor,  did  I  so  term  you  ?  Seeing  that  this  my  confession 
shall  come  before  the  council,  I  pray  you  place  my  terms 
as  reverently  as  I  speak  them."  "Well,  well,"  says  Mar- 
tin, "  write  that  Trew  is  of  the  same  faith  as  the  catholics 
be."  "  I  did  not  so  call  you,  neither,"  said  Careless,  "  I 
wonder  what  you  mean."  Here  the  marshal  kindly  inter- 
posed, remarking,  "  You  said  the  clergy,  did  you  not.  Care- 
less?" "  Yes,  forsooth  did  I,"  and  it  was  so  written. 

Martin,  whose  carnal  mind  could  perceive  nothing  of  the 
spiritual  things  on  which  Careless  spoke  at  once  so  candid- 
ly and  so  discreetly,  was  possessed  with  a  sudden  convic- 
tion that  he  held  no  other  than  what  he  and  his  fellows  did ; 
and  the  rest  of  his  conversation  was,  on  his  part,  altogether 
professions  of  regard,  and  a  desire  to  serve  him :  on  that 
of  Careless,  declarations  of  his  readiness  to  do  whatever 
his  conscience  and  the  word  of  God  should  approve. 

This  estimable  man  was  kept  for  two  years  a  prisoner, 
destined  by  the  persecutors  to  the  stake,  and  earnestly 
longing  for  it:  but  his  end  was  to  depart  from  the  captivity 
of  their  gaols  to  the  perfect  freedom  of  heaven,  without  any 
intermediate  Svep:  and  his  body  was  buried  in  a  dunghill. 
His  letters  are  among  the  most  valuable  and  interesting  of 
the  precious  collection  left  by  the  martyrs. 


156  JULIUS    PALMER. 

CliAPTER  VIII. 

Jl'LIUS    PALMER. 

Julius  Palmer,  who,  at  the  age  of  twenty-four,  yielded  his 
life  for  the  testimony  of  Jesus,  furnishes  us  with  one  of  the 
most  affecting  instances  of  God's  mighty  working,  and  vic- 
torious grace,  ever  beheld.  One  cannot  read  the  story 
without  thinking  of  the  young  man  in  the  gospel,  on  whom 
Jesus  looking,  loved  him,  though  as  yet  he  lacked  the  one 
thing  indispensable,  which  He  only  could  supply.  Palmer's 
history  is  so  beautifully  told  by  old  John  Fox,  that  we 
shall  herein  deviate  as  little  from  his  words  as  the  neces- 
sary abridgment  of  a  redundant  style  will  allow.  He  cer- 
tainly is  a  gem  of  the  first  water  among  the  many  spark- 
ling jewels  which  he  has  enshrined  for  the  church  to  con- 
template. 

Julius  Palmer  was  a  native  of  Coventry,  where  his  father, 
by  his  calling  an  upholsterer,  had  been  chief  magistrate, 
and  was  a  considerable  merchant.  Julius  was  a  pupil  in 
the  free  school  of  Magdalen  college,  Oxford,  where  he  be- 
came an  excellent  scholar,  in  prose  and  verse.  He  had  a 
very  prompt  and  ready  memory,  a  sharp  and  pregnant 
wit ;  he  spoke  Latin  fluently,  and  was  so  well  versed  in  the 
Greek,  that  when  the  regular  reader  in  that  branch  was 
absent  from  college,  Julius  supplied  his  place.  He  was  a 
subtle  disputant  in  the  schools;  and  when  at  home  used  to 
say  that  he  was  never  so  pleasantly  occupied  as  while  de- 
bating hard  questions  in  philosophy.  He  often  spent  the 
whole  night  in  this  his  favourite  occupation.  Nor  was  he 
less  inclined  to  familiar  converse,  greatly  delighting  to  ex- 
ercise his  mind  and  learning  by  friendly  argument,  and 
close  discussion  with  his  equals;  yet  so  devoid  was  he  of  all 
self-conceit  and  love  of  contradiction,  that  his  unostenta- 
tious, modest  way  of  carrying  on  an  argument,  the  sober- 
ness of  his  reasoning,  and  gentleness  of  his  manner,  were 
no  less  remarkable  than  his  dexterity  and  learning.  In  his 
behaviour  he  was  unaffected,  of  a  cheerful  countenance, 
pleasant  speech,  courteous,  affable,  and  lowly  as  a  child. 
Of  deceit  he  was  incapable,  and  so  unsuspicious  of  it  in 
others,  that  he  was  frequently  deceived  by  them.  He  never 
reproached  an  enemy,  nor  resented  an  ill  office,  for  he  used 


JULIUS    PALMER,  157 

to  say  that  none  were  to  be  accounted  valiant  but  such  as 
could  despise  an  injury. 

His  diligence  in  study  was  great ;  he  rose  at  four  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  and  pursued  his  employment  till  ten  at 
night — a  very  late  hour  in  those  times ;  and  by  dint  of 
such  close  application  was  admitted  as  a  reader  in  logic  at 
the  age  of  eighteen.  Such  was  young  Palmer,  in  the  days 
of  king  Edward;  and  withal,  throughout  that  reign,  as  bit- 
ter an  enemy  to  the  gospel  of  Christ  as  his  blind  and  bigot- 
ed devotion  to  popery  could  make  him.  His  chosen  com- 
panions were  such  as  hated  the  truth;  and  the  extreme 
openness  of  his  character  rendered  his  hostility  apparent  to 
all.  If  he  came  to  common  prayer  at  any  time,  it  was  be- 
cause the  college  rules  compelled  him  so  to  do;  and  as  to 
sermons  from  the  faithful  preachers,  he  not  only  absented 
himself,  but  dissuaded  his  pupils  from  hearing  them ;  tell- 
ing them  they  could  be  much  better  occupied  at  home.  The 
king's  preachers,  and  all  others  who  set  forth  sound  doc- 
trine, he  openly  disdained  and  despised ;  insomuch  that  he 
■was  continually  under  reproof  for  his  contumacy,  and  by  the 
officers  of  the  college  so  frequently  punished  by  fine,  short 
commons,  or  severe  impositions  of  tasks,  that  they  remark- 
ed he  sought  how  to  expose  himself  to  suffering  in  the  cause 
that  he  deemed  so  holy. 

At  length,  shortly  before  the  death  of  Edward,  some 
slanderous  libels  and  railing  verses  against  Dr.  Haddon, 
president  of  that  college,  were  found  affixed  to  the  doors 
and  walls;  and  Palmer,  who  was  known  to  have  expressed 
himself  with  great  severity  against  the  president,  was  sus- 
pected of  being  their  author.  This  he  stoutly  denied,  and 
cleared  himself  of  the  charge;  but  in  so  doing  bespoke  so 
many  reproachful  things  concerning  the  officers  who  ex- 
amined him,  and  in  so  many  ways  showed  his  active  en- 
mity against  the  truth,  that  finding  him  obstinate  and  in- 
corrigible, they  expelled  him  the  house. 

Thus  thrown  on  his  own  resources,  Julius  engaged  him- 
self as  tutor  in  the  family  of  sir  Francis  Knolles;  where 
he  continued  until  the  coming  in  of  Mary.  When  her  visit- 
ors were  despatched  to  Oxford,  to  reform  the  university — 
that  is,  to  displace  the  godly  and  learned  men  established 
there,  and  to  appoint  others  of  an  opposite  character  in  their 
room — then  came  Julius  Palmer,  as  a  claimant  for  his  for- 
feited privileges,  truly  asserting  that  the  religion  then 
brought  back  he  had  to  the  uttermost  of  his  ability  de- 

MARTYROLOGY. — VOL.  II.  14 


158  JULIUS    PALMER. 

fended  and  maintained.  His  plea  was  allowed:  and  he 
was  restored  again,  to  experience  the  amazing  power  of 
God's  grace,  under  circumstances  as  unfavourable  to  his 
conversion,  as  his  former  state  in  that  college  had  been 
advantageous. 

During  his  expulsion  he  had  heard,  particularly  in  the 
house  of  sir  Francis  Knolles,  so  much  of  the  truth,  as  did 
by  the  operation  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  excite  some  doubt  and 
inquiry  in  his  mind :  and  this  became  evident,  through  the 
extreme  ingenuousness  of  his  temper,  which  could  not  en- 
dure the  least  shadow  of  disguise.     Whatever  his  heart 
thought,  that  did  his  tongue  utter;  and  to  this  was  owing 
his  exposure  to  suspicions  that,  by  a  little  reserve,  he  might 
have  avoided.     When  God  began  to  work  the  change  with- 
in him,  he  became  very  inquisitive  to  know  how  the  mar- 
tyrs were  apprehended,  what  articles  they  died  for,  and 
how  they  took  their  death.     He  sent  a  scholar  of  his,  with 
another  young  man,  at  his  own  expense,  into  Gloucester- 
shire, to  witness,  and  truly  to  report  to  him,  all  the  parti- 
culars of  bishop  Hooper's  martyrdom.     He  had  often,  in 
king  Edward's  time,  said  of  the  gospellers,  that  none  of 
them  all  would  stand  to  death  for  their  religion;  and  for 
this  cause,  it  was  supposed,  he  inquired  so  narrowly  into 
their  conduct;  thereby  becoming  aware  with  what  extreme 
and  horrible  cruelty  the  martyrs  of  God  were  tried ;  and 
how  valiantly  they  overcame  all   kinds  of  torments,  en- 
during  to  the  end.     At  last  he  was  made  a  personal  wit- 
ness of  it;  in  the  examinations  and  death  of  those  dear 
servants  of  Christ  who  in  Oxford  were  burnt  before  his 
eyes.     The  first  hope  that  godly  persons  conceived  of  him, 
was  at  his  return  from  the  martyrdom  of  the  bishops  Rid- 
ley and  Latimer ;  when  he  was  greatly  agitated,  and  in  the 
hearing  of  several  broke  out  into  strong  expressions,  "  O 
raging  cruelty!  O  tyranny  tragical  and  more  than  barba- 
rous !"     Indeed  this  lovely  phcenix  may  have  been  said  to 
spring  from  the  ashes  of  those  blessed  men :  his  darkness 
was  illumined  by  the  first  rays  of  the  candle  which  they, 
by  God's  grace,  then  lighted  in  England.    From  that  very 
day  he  gave  himself  to  the  diligent  study  of  the  truth,  im- 
mediately borrowing  from  a  college  friend  Peter  Martyr's 
commentaries  upon  the  epistle  to  the  Corinthians,  and  other 
good  books  of  different  pious  men. 

A  very  striking  account  was  written  out  for  Fox,  by  one 
whose  own  history  was  not  a  little  remarkable.     This  Mr. 


JULIUS    PALMER.  169 

BuUingham  was  at  college  with  Palmer,  and  quite  of  his 
mind;  so  that  towards  the  end  of  Edward's  reign,  he  exiled 
himself  to  France  for  his  religion.  In  Mary's  days  he  re- 
turned, and  was  appointed  chaplain  to  Stephen  Gardiner ; 
and  after  the  happy  establishment  of  queen  Elizabeth  on 
the  throne,  he  continued  so  perverse,  contumacious,  and 
mischievous,  that  he  was  dispossessed  of  all  his  livings. 
Nevertheless,  Fox,  praising  God,  declares  that  at  the  time 
he  was  writing,  BuUingham  was  become  a  most  constant 
professor  and  earnest  teacher  of  the  word  of  God.  This  is 
his  recital  of  what  took  place  between  him  and  Palmer. 

"  I,  BuUingham,  intended  to  forsake  England,  and  to  flee 
into  France,  for  the  wicked  pope's  sake  ,*  (which  came  to 
pass,  indeed,  for  in  Rouen,  I  was  for  a  time,)  this  Julius 
Palmer  and  Richard  Duck  brought  me  outwards  in  my 
journey  till  we  came  to  London;  where  on  a  day  Julius 
Palmer  and  I  walked  to  St.  James',  the  queen's  palace; 
and  as  we  leaned  at  the  great  gate  of  that  palace.  Palmer 
spake  thus  unto  me :  '  BuUingham,  you  know  in  what 
misery  and  calamity  we  are  fallen,  for  the  pope  and  his  re- 
ligion. We  are  young  men  abhorred  of  all  men  now  pre- 
sently, and  like  to  be  abhorred  more  and  more.  Let  us 
consider  what  hangeth  over  our  heads.  You  are  departing 
into  a  strange  country,  both  friendless  and  moniless,  where 
I  fear  you  shall  taste  of  sourer  sauces  than  hitherto  you 
have  done.  And  as  for  me,  I  am  at  my  wit's  end.  The  face 
of  hell  itself  is  as  amiable  unto  me  as  the  sight  of  Magda- 
len college;  for  there  I  was  hated  as  a  venomous  toad. 
Would  God  I  were  raked  under  the  earth!  And  as  touch- 
ing our  religion,  even  our  conscience  beareth  witness  that 
we  taste  not  such  an  inward  sweetness  in  the  possession 
therefore,  as  we  understand  the  gospellers  to  taste  of  their 
religion.  Yea,  to  say  the  truth,  we  maintain  we  wot  not 
what,  rather  of  will  than  of  knowledge.  But  what  then? 
rather  than  I  will  yield  unto  them,  1  will  beg  my  bread.' 
So  Palmer  bequeathed  himself  to  the  wide  world,  and  I 
passed  over  into  Normandy.  At  my  return  into  England 
again,  my  chance  was  to  meet  Palmer  in  Paul's,  where  a 
rood  was  set  up.  This  our  meeting  was  in  the  beginning' 
of  queen  Mary's  reign,  and  our  miserable  departing  had 
been  not  long  before  the  end  of  king  Edward's  days.  Then, 
after  our  greeting,  thus  said  Palmer;  BuUingham,  is  this 
our  god,  for  whom  we  have  smarted?'  'No,  Palmer,'  quoth 
I, '  it  is  an  image  of  him.'     '  An  image?'  quoth  he,  '  I  tell 


160  JULIUS    PALMER. 

thee  plainly,  Bullingham,  John  Calvin,  whose  Institutes  I 
have  perused  since  our  departure,  telleth  me  plainly  by 
God's  word,  that  it  is  an  idol ;  and  that  the  pope  is  Anti- 
christ, and  his  clergy  the  filthy  sink-hole  of  hell.  And  now 
I  believe  it,  for  I  leel  it  sensibly.  Oh,  that  God  had  re- 
vealed these  matters  unto  me  in  times  past !  I  would  have 
bequeathed  this  Romish  religion,  or  rather  irreligion,  to  the 
devil  of  hell,  from  whence  it  came.  Believe  them  not,  Bul- 
lingham; I  will  rather  have  these  knees  pared  off  than  I 
will  kneel  to  yonder  jackanapes,  (meaning  the  rood.)  God 
help  me,  I  am  born  to  trouble  and  adversity  in  this  world." 
"  Well,  Palmer,"  said  I,  "  is  the  wind  in  that  corner  with 
you  1  I  warrant  you  it  will  blow  you  to  little  ease  at  the  end. 
I  will  never  have  to  do  with  you  again."  So  I  left  Palmer 
walking  in  Paul's:  who,  through  the  element  of  fire,  is  ex- 
alted above  the  elements,  where  eternal  rest  is  prepared  for 
persecuted  martyrs.  Thus  much  is  true ;  and  let  it  be 
known  that  I,  Bullingham,  affirm  it  to  be  true.  More  I 
have  not  to  say.  In  these  words  and  deeds  it  appeareth  that 
God  had  elected  him." 

It  would  appear  that  at  the  time  of  this  meeting.  Palmer 
had  attained  to  a  full  knowledge  of  the  abominable  charac- 
ter of  popery;  but  not  to  that  joy  and  peace  in  believing 
which  soon  followed  on  a  close  and  prayerful  study  of  God's 
word.  His  happiness  then  became  so  great  that  it  was 
apparent  in  all  his  words  and  actions :  he  never  before  so 
hated  the  truth  as  now  he  loved  it ;  and  his  only  trouble 
was  in  being  compelled  outwardly  to  join  in  the  idolatrous 
services  of  the  church,  for  which  he  had  aforetime  gloried 
in  suffering  rebuke,  censure,  and  loss.  At  length,  through 
God's  grace,  he  grew  up  to  such  maturity  and  ripeness  in 
the  truth,  that  he  failed  not  to  declare  certain  sparks  thereof 
in  his  outward  behaviour ;  for  sometimes  he  would  absent 
himself  from  the  confiteor,  when  he  was  obliged  to  bow  in 
different  directions,  knock  his  breast,  and  perform  other 
idle  ceremonies  against  which  his  heart  rose :  and  some- 
times being  there,  he  would  leave  the  church  at  sacring 
time,  as  they  term  it,  out  of  the  way  of  the  idolatrous  ado- 
ration. These  things  were  noted  by  the  president.  Cole, 
who  both  suspected  and  hated  him,  as  did  others  of  his  for- 
mer friends.  His  conscience  also  suffered  great  torment ; 
for  his  new  life  and  old  living  but  ill  agreed  together,  and 
he  resolved  to  depart  voluntarily  to  avoid  a  second  expul- 
sion.   To  a  particular  friend,  who  besought  him  to  remain 


JULIUS    PALMER.  161 

a  while  longer,  asking  where  he  would  go,  or  how  he  could 
live,  he  made  answer,  "  The  earth  is  the  Lord's,  and  the 
fulness  thereof:  let  the  Lord  work:  I  will  commit  myself 
to  God  and  the  wide  world." 

Two  instances  are  related  of  the  extreme  difficulty  that 
he  found  in  even  tolerating  the  necessary  intercourse  with 
what  then  constituted  the  nominal  church.  After  quitting 
Magdalen  college,  as  a  student,  he  had  occasion  to  be  there 
on  a  time,  and  hearing  that  the  Spanish  friar  John,  who 
succeeded  Dr.  Peter  Martyr  as  divinity  lecturer,  was  to 
preach  there  that  Sunday,  he  refused  to  attend  ;  till  by  the 
earnest  persuasion  of  a  friend,  a  fellow  of  the  college,  he 
was  induced  to  accompany  him.  But  suddenly,  as  the  friar 
vehemently  inveighed  against  God's  truth,  in  defending 
certain  popish  heresies.  Palmer,  on  whom  many  eyes  were 
turned,  left  the  church,  and  was  found  in  his  friend's  cham- 
ber weeping  bitterly.  When  it  was  demanded  of  him  why 
he  had  slipped  away  so  abruptly,  he  said,  "  O,  if  I  had 
not  openly  departed,  I  should  have  openly  stopped  mine 
ears.  For  the  friar's  blasphemous  talk,  in  disproving,  or 
rather  depraving  the  verity,  made  not  only  mine  ears  to 
glow,  but  mine  heart  worse  to  smart,  than  if  mine  ears  had 
been  cut  from  mine  head."  On  another  occasion,  the  same 
friend  of  his,  Mr.  Shipper,  invited  him  to  dinner  in  his 
chamber.  Palmer  went,  not  knowing  that  he  was  to  meet 
this  friar  John,  Smith,  Tresham,  and  others  of  the  like 
mind,  whose  company  he  could  ill  bear.  On  seeing  them, 
he  whispered  his  friend  that  he  would  be  gone,  for  that  was 
no  place  for  him ;  but  Shipper,  by  representing  that  such 
a  step  would  needlessly  betray  and  endanger  him,  with 
other  persuasions,  induced  him  to  stay.  When  he  came 
to  the  fireside,  the  friar,  who  could  not  speak  English,  sa- 
luted him  cheerfully  in  Latin,  to  which  Palmer,  with  a 
mild  and  kind  countenance,  returned  a  courteous  answer; 
but  when  the  friar  offered  him  his  hand,  he  turned  his  eye 
aside,  as  though  he  had  not  seen  it,  and  spoke  to  another, 
so  avoiding  to  give,  even  in  semblance,  the  right  hand  of 
fellowship  to  an  opposer  of  Christ's  gospel.  When  they 
were  set,  and  had  eaten,  the  friar  with  a  pleasant  look,  offer- 
ing him  the  cup  said,  "  I  drink  to  you,  learned  young  man." 
Palmer,  deeply  blushing,  answered,  "  I  acknowledge  no 
such  name,  O  sir."  Then  taking  the  cup,  he  set  it  down, 
as  though  he  meant  by  and  by  to  pledge  him ;  but  it  was 
well  marked  that  he  took  care  to  forget  it.  Afterwards 
14* 


162  JULIUS    PALMER. 

being  sharply  rebuked  by  his  friend  Shipper  for  what  he 
called  unwise  and  unseemly  behaviour,  Julius  replied, 
"  The  oil  of  these  men  doth  not  supple,  but  breaketh  my 
head." 

On  his  last  visit  to  Oxford,  not  long  before  his  death,  one 
Barwich,  a  fellow  of  Trinity  college,  meeting  him  in  his 
friend's  chamber,  began  to  reason  with  him ;  and  finding 
him  very  zealous  and  earnest  in  defending  the  truth,  said 
to  him,  "Well,  Palmer,  well ;  now  thou  art  stout  and  hardy 
in  thine  opinion  ;  but  if  thou  wert  once  brought  to  the  stake, 
I  believe  thou  wouldest  tell  me  another  tale.  I  advise  thee, 
beware  of  the  fire;  it  is  a  shrewd  matter  to  burn."  "  Tru- 
ly," said  Palmer,  "  I  have  been  in  danger  of  burning  once 
or  twice,  and  hitherto,  I  thank  God,  I  have  escaped  it. 
But  I  judge  verily  it  will  be  my  end  at  the  last ;  welcome 
be  it,  by  the  grace  of  God  !  Indeed  it  is  a  hard  matter  for 
them  to  burn  that  have  the  mind  and  soul  linked  to  the 
body,  as  a  thief's  foot  is  tied  in  a  pair  of  fetters ;  but  if  a 
man  be  once  able,  by  the  help  of  God's  Spirit  to  separate 
and  divide  the  soul  from  the  body,  for  him  it  is  no  more 
mastery  to  burn,  than  for  me  to  eat  this  piece  of  bread." 

This  same  open  simplicity  and  godly  sincerity  was  made 
the  means,  before  long,  of  bringing  him  to  the  immediate 
presence  of  his  God.  After  resigning  his  fellowship  in 
Oxford,  Palmer  obtained  the  mastership  of  the  grammar- 
school  at  Reading,  where  he  was  highly  esteemed  and  fa- 
voured among  those  who  loved  the  truth,  no  less  for  his 
zeal  in  God's  service  than  for  his  great  learning  and  know- 
ledge. But  certain  artful  hypocrites,  hating  him  for  the 
same  cause,  resolved  on  his  destruction  ;  to  accomplish 
which,  they  feigned  an  extraordinary  love  for  the  gospel, 
with  much  affection  for  himself;  so  that  they  found  no  dif- 
ficulty in  gaining  the  entire  confidence  of  the  open-hearted 
young  man,  who  desired  nothing  so  much  as  to  encourage 
others  in  the  path  where  he  found  such  increasing  plea- 
santness and  peace.  Having  thus  got  access,  both  to  his 
secret  thoughts  and  to  his  home,  these  traitors  took  occa- 
sion in  his  absence  to  rifle  his  study  of  certain  godly  books 
and  writings,  among  which  was  some  poetry,  and  other 
productions  of  Palmer,  written  against  the  popish  proceed- 
ings, and  especially  against  their  unnatural  and  inhuman 
treatment  of  the  martyrs.  Having  done  this,  they  had  the 
hardihood  to  inform  him  of  it,  threatening  to  lay  the  papers 
before  the  council,  unless  he  would  instantly  and  quietly 


JULIUS    PALMER.  163 

depart,  resigning  the  school  to  a  friend  of  theirs.     The  in- 
nocent victim   of  this   odious   deceit,  taking  patiently  the 
spoiling  of  his  goods,  left  all  that  belonged  to  him,  with 
his  quarter's  salary,  in  their  hands,  and  took  his  departure 
from  Reading,  determining  to  go  to  Ensham,  where  his 
mother  dwelt,  hoping  to  obtain  from   her  certain  legacies 
due  to  him  by  his  father's  will,  which  he  should  have  re- 
ceived some  years  before ;  and  taking  his  journey  by  Ox- 
ford, sent  his  friend  Shipper,  with  his  brother,  lo  prepare 
her  for  his  visit,  and  entreat  her  favour.     He  then  follow- 
ed, and  his  mother  no  sooner  saw  him  on  his  knees,  asking 
her  blessing,  as  usual,  than  she  exclaimed,  "  Thou  shalt 
have  Christ's  curse  and  mine,  wheresoever  thou  go."    The 
poor  youth,  amazed  at  so  cruel  a  greeting,  paused  a  while, 
and  then  said,  "  O  mother,  your  own  curse  you  may  give 
me,  which  God  knoweth  I  never  deserved  ;  but  God's  curse 
you  cannot  give   me,  for  he   hath   already  blessed  me." 
"  Nay,"  replied  she,  "  thou  wentest   from  God's  blessing 
into  the  warm  sun,  when  thou  wast  banished  for  a  heretic 
out  of  that  worshipful  house  in  Oxford  ;  and  now  for  the 
like  knavery  art  driven  out  of  Reading  too."    "  Alas,  mo- 
ther," said   he,  "  you  have  been  misinformed ;  I  was  not 
expelled  or  driven  away,  but  freely  resigned  of  my  own 
accord.    And  heretic  I  am  none,  for  Island  not  stubbornly 
against  any  true  doctrine,  but  defend  it  to  my  power.    And 
you  may  be  sure  they  use  not  to  expel  or  banish,  but  to 
burn  heretics,  as  they  term  them."    She  answered,  "  Well, 
I  am  sure  thou  dost  not  believe  as  thy  father  and  I,  and  all 
our  forefathers  have  done ;  but  as  we  were  taught  by  the 
new  law  in  king  Edward's  days,  which  is  damnable  here- 
sy."   "  Indeed,  I  confess,"  said  Julius,  "  that  I  believe  that 
doctrine  which  was  taught  in  king  Edward's  time,  which 
is  not  heresy,  but  truth ;  neither  is  it  new,  but  as  old  as 
Christ  and  his  apostles."     "  If  thou  be  at  that  point,"  said 
she,  "  I  require  thee  to  depart  from  my  house,  and  out  of 
my  sight,  and  never  more  take  me  for  thy  mother  hereaf- 
ter.    As  for  money  and  goods,  I  have  none  of  thine :  thy 
father  bequeathed  nought  for  heretics.     Fagots  I  have  to 
burn  thee  ;  more  thou  gettest  not  at  my  hands."  "  Mother," 
he  replied,  "  whereas  you   have  cursed  me,  I  again  pray 
God  to  bless  you,  and  prosper  you  all   your  life   long." 
And  with  other  soft  and  sweet  words,  the  tears  abundantly 
trickling  down  his  cheeks,  he  meekly  departed  from  her. 
The  sight  so  far  tbuched  her  hard  heart,  that  she  flung  after 


164  JULIUS    PALHER. 

him  a  piece  of  gold,  saying,  "  Take  that  to  keep  thee  a  true 
man." 

Thus  poor  Palmer,  being  destitute  of  worldly  help,  and 
cruelly  repelled  of  her  whom  he  took  to  be  his  surest  friend, 
wist  not  where  to  turn  his  face.  He  at  last  resolved  to  re- 
turn secretly  to  Magdalen  college,  where  he  knew  that  he 
had  some  private  friends ;  and  so  it  proved,  for,  through 
their  kind  interest  he  obtained,  even  from  president  Cole,  a 
recommendation  to  a  school  in  Gloucestershire,  for  which 
place  he  again  started,  commended  to  the  divine  blessing  by 
his  friends,  of  whom  some  accompanied  him  to  Ensham, 
and  others  to  Burford.  As  he  proceeded  on  his  way  alone, 
musing  and  pondering  on  these  things,  it  suddenly  came 
into  his  mind  to  return  privately  to  Reading;  hoping  by 
the  aid  of  some  trusty  person,  to  secure  his  little  property 
of  household  stuff,  and  to  obtain  the  quarter's  salary  due  to 
him.  To  Reading  therefore  he  came ;  and  taking  up  his 
lodging  at  the  sign  of  the  Cardinal's  Hat,  desired  his  hostess 
to  assign  him  a  retired  room.  But  in  spite  of  his  precau- 
tion, some  of  the  generation  of  vipers  had  knowledge  of  his 
coming ;  and  they  immediately  conferred  together  how  to 
complete  his  destruction.  It  was  determined  that  one  Mr. 
Hampton,  a  double-faced  professor,  should  visit  him ;  and 
under  colour  of  friendly  zeal  in  his  service,  fish  out  the 
cause  of  his  unexpected  return  to  Reading. 

Palmer,  in  the  integrity  of  his  own  simple  and  confiding 
heart,  opened  to  this  treacherous  friend  his  whole  design, 
from  which  the  other  strove  to  turn  him,  representing  what 
great  danger  he  would  bring  on  himself  thereby.  Palmer 
replied,  insisting  on  his  own  plan,  until  Hampton,  in  a  fury, 
went  oflf,  saying,  that  as  he  had  fished  so  he  might  fowl, 
for  him.  Palmer,  still  suspecting  nothing,  called  for  his 
supper,  and  went  quietly  to  bed :  but  quiet  he  was  not  to 
remain  long  time,  for  soon  after  his  chamber  was  broke 
open  by  officers  and  their  retinue,  who  came  rushing  in, 
with  lanterns  and  weapons,  requiring  him  in  the  name  of 
the  king  and  queen  to  come  peaceably  away  with  them. 
The  harmless  young  man  arose,  and  without  speaking  one 
word,  suffered  himself  to  be  led  away,  as  a  lamb  to  the 
slaughter.  He  was  brought  to  prison,  taken  to  a  vile, 
damp,  filthy  dungeon,  prepared  for  thieves  and  murderers, 
and  there  left,  with  his  hands  and  feet  made  fast  in  such 
high  stocks,  that  his  body  could  scarcely  touch  the  ground 
as  he  hung.   And  so  for  about  ten  days  he  remained. 


JULIUS    PALMER.  165 

When  at  last  he  was  brought  before  the  mayor,  the 
charges  laid  against  him  were  not,  as  he  expected,  for 
heresy,  but  for  treason,  sedition,  surmised  murder,  and 
adultery.  On  hearing  which,  he  exclaimed  that  if  such 
horrible  and  heinous  crimes  might  be  proved  against  him, 
he  would  patiently  submit  to  all  kinds  of  torments  that  could 
be  devised  ;  adding,  with  a  burst  of  righteous  indignation, 
"  O  ye  cruel  blood-suckers,  ye  follow  the  old  practices  of 
your  progenitors,  the  viperous  and  wolvish  generation  of 
pharisees  and  papists;  but  be  yc  well  assured,  that  God 
already  seeth  your  subtle  devices  and  crafty  packing,  and 
will  not  suffer  the  outrageous  fury  of  your  venomous  tongues, 
and  fiery  hearts  to  remain  unpunished." 

The  charge  of  treason  was  grounded  on  some  remarks 
that  he  was  stated  to  have  made  respecting  the  queen's  use 
of  the  sword  put  into  her  hand ;  that  of  sedition,  because, 
it  was  said,  some  servants  of  sir  Francis  Knolles  had  fallen 
out,  and  made  a  disturbance  among  themselves,  from  at- 
tending his  lectures.  The  other  two  were  built  on  a  letter 
from  his  landlady,  which  they  pretended  to  have  intercept- 
ed, and  on  some  other  equally  false  and  absurd  report. 
This  indictment  being  read,  the  mayor  ordered  him  in  the 
cage,  for  a  public  spectacle  to  the  people,  while  he  went  to 
dinner;  and  in  the  mean  time  care  was  taken  to  spread 
through  the  whole  place  the  nature  of  the  accusations.  In 
the  afternoon  Palmer  was  brought  to  his  answer,  when  he 
so  easily  and  clearly  proved  his  innocence,  showing  also, 
on  the  face  of  the  letters  themselves  that  they  were  palpa- 
ble forgeries,  as  to  make  the  mayor  ashamed  that  he  had 
given  credit  to  them  :  and  measures  were  taken  to  convey 
him  privately  out  of  the  country,  to  save  their  own  charac- 
ters. 

While  this  was  going  on,  a  zealous  professor  of  the  gos- 
pel, named  Galant,  visited  him  in  the  prison,  where  he 
found  him  a  little  better  treated  than  before,  and  said,  "Oh, 
Palmer,  thou  hast  deceived  divers  men's  expectations,  for 
we  hear  that  you  suffer  not  for  righteousness'  sake,  but  for 
your  own  demerits."  To  which  the  martyr  replied,  "  Oh, 
brother  Galant,  these  be  the  old  practices  of  that  satanical 
brood.  But  be  you  well  assured,  and  God  be  praised  for 
it,  I  have  so  purged  myself,  and  detected  their  falsehood, 
that  henceforth  I  shall  be  no  more  molested  therewith." 
And  then  he  wrote,  for  his  friend's  satisfaction,  what  con- 
firmed the  statement  already  made. 


166  PALMER ASKIN GWIN. 

His  wicked  adversaries,  seeing  their  first  plan  entirely 
defeated,  and  fearing  that  if  he  should  secretly  escape,  both 
themselves  and  the  magistrates  might  be  exposed  and 
endangered,  resolved  on  the  extreme  refuge  that  alone 
was  left.  They  had  not  dared  to  accuse  him  of  heresy, 
because  they  still  kept  on  the  mask  of  godliness  themselves, 
and  were  accounted  earnest  brethren  by  the  Lord's  people: 
but  now  they  laid  aside  both  shame  and  fear;  and  no  longer 
concealing  the  disgraceful  act  of  robbing  his  study,  pro- 
duced the  writings  which  they  had  stolen,  and  charged  him 
with  heresy.  Palmer  was  then  again  called  before  the 
mayor,  and  other  justices,  to  render  an  account  of  his  faith, 
and  to  answer  these  new  articles  and  informations.  Hav- 
ing gathered  enough  from  his  own  lips  to  entrap  him,  they 
devised  a  bill  of  instructions  against  him,  to  be  delivered  to 
Dr.  Jeffrey,  who  was  to  hold  his  next  visitation  on  the  fol- 
lowing Tuesday,  at  Newbury.  This  indictment,  and  the 
prisoner,  were  then  ordered  to  be  conveyed  together  to  the 
place  of  his  trial.  An  example  occurred  at  this  time,  both 
of  charitable  affection  towards  Palmer,  and  disinterested 
modesty  on  his  part.  A  Mr.  Ryder,  a  faithful  witness  of 
God's  truth  at  Reading,  hearing  how  cruelly  Palmer  was 
dealt  with  in  the  prison,  and  that  he  was  pining  away  for 
lack  of  necessaries,  and  how  fully  he  had  proved  his  inno- 
cence before  the  officers,  of  the  crimes  laid  to  his  charge, 
sent  his  servant  secretly,  the  night  before  his  departure  for 
Newbury,  with  a  bent  groat,  in  token  of  his  goodwill,  re- 
quiring him  to  let  him  know  if  he  lacked  necessaries,  as  he 
would  provide  for  him.  Palmer  answered,  "  The  Lord 
reward  your  master  for  his  benevolence  towards  me,  a 
miserable  object  in  this  world  ;  and  tell  him  that,  God  be 
praised,  I  lack  nothing."  The  next  morning,  when  pre- 
paring for  the  journey,  Thomas  Askin,  his  fellow-prisoner 
and  companion  in  suffering  for  Christ's  sake  in  the  fire, 
was  sitting  at  breakfast;  and  seeing  Palmer  very  sad,  lean- 
ing against  the  window,  asked  why  he  came  not  to  break- 
fast. Palmer  replied,  "  Because  I  lack  money  to  discharge 
the  shot."  "  Come  on  man,"  said  the  other,  "  God  be  prais- 
ed for  it,  I  have  enough  for  us  both."  This  being  after- 
wards related  to  Mr.  Ryder,  it  grieved  him  excessively  that 
he  had  so  readily  taken  Palmer's  modest  answer. 

On  Monday  night,  they  came  to  Newbury,  and  there 
found,  in  the  dungeon  to  which  they  were  committed,  John 
GwiN,  their  faithful  brother  martyr.  When  brought  before 


JULIUS    PALMER.  167 

Dr.  Jeffreys  in  consistory,  the  following  was  the  order  of 
the  examination,  as  gathered  from  the  notes  of  Mr,  Ship- 
per, and  four  other  faithful  reporters  who  were  present 
throughout. 

The  choir  of  the  parish  church  was  the  place,  where 
seats  were  set  for  Dr.  Jeffreys,  representing  the  bishop  of 
Salisbury;  Sir  Richard  Abridges,  the  high  sheriff';  Sir 
William  Ramsford,  Mr.  Winchcomb,  and  the  parson  of  In- 
glefield.  The  prisoners  being  presented,  the  commission 
opened,  and  other  things  arranged.  Dr.  Jeffi'eys  addressed 
Palmer,  saying,  "  Art  thou  that  jolly  writer  of  three-half- 
penny books  that  we  hear  of?"  Palmer  answered,  "  I  know 
not  what  you  mean."  "  Have  you  taught  Latin  so  long," 
said  the  rude  examiner,  "  that  now  you  understand  not 
English  ?"  To  this  he  gave  no  reply.  Jeffreys  then  rose 
up,  and  stated  that  they  had  received  certain  articles  against 
him  from  the  mayor  of  Reading,  whereby  he  had  been  con- 
victed of  heresies.  These  were  :  "  I.  That  you  deny  the 
pope's  holiness'  supremacy.  II.  That  there  are  but  two 
sacraments.  III.  That  the  priest  showeth  up  an  idol  at 
mass ;  and  therefore  you  went  to  no  mass  since  your  first 
coming  to  Reading.  IV.  That  there  is  no  purgatory.  V. 
That  you  be  a  sower  of  sedition,  and  have  sought  to  divide 
the  unity  of  the  queen's  subjects." 

Here  the  sheriff"  suggested,  "  You  were  best  see  first 
what  he  will  say  to  his  own  handy- work."  "Ye  say  truth," 
replied  Jeffreys.  "  Tell  me.  Palmer,  art  thou  he  that  wrote 
this  fair  volume  ?  Look  upon  it."  "  I  wrote  it  indeed," 
said  Palmer,  "  and  gathered  it  out  of  the  Scriptures."  "  Is 
this  doggish  rhyme  yours  also'.'  Look."  "  I  wrote  this,  I 
deny  not."  "  And  what  say  you  to  these  Latin  verses,  en- 
titled Epicedion,  dfc.  Are  they  yours  too  ?"  "  Yea,  sir." 
"Art  thou  not  ashamed  to  affirm  it?"  continued  Jeffreys; 
"  it  came  of  no  good  spirit,  that  thou  didst  both  rail  at  the 
dead,  and  slander  a  learned  and  catholic  man  yet  alive." 
Palmer  answered,  "  If  it  be  a  slander,  he  hath  slandered 
himself;  for  I  do  but  report  his  own  writing,  and  open  the 
folly  therein  declared.  And  I  reckon  it  no  railing  to  in- 
veigh against  Annas  and  Caiaphas,  being  dead."  "  Sayest 
thou  so  ?"  cried  the  angry  judge  ;  "  I  will  make  thee  recant 
it,  and  wring  peccavi  out  of  your  lying  lips,  ere  I  have 
done  with  thee."  "But  I  know,"  returned  Palmer,  "that 
although  of  myself  I  be  able  to  do  nothing,  yet  if  you  and 
all  mine  enemies,  both  bodily  and  ghostly,  should  do  your 


168  JULIUS    PALMER. 

worst,  you  shall  not  be  able  to  bring  that  to  pass ;  neither 
shall  ye  prevail  against  God's  mighty  Spirit,  by  whom  we 
understand  the  truth,  and  speak  it  so  boldly."  "Ah,  are 
you  full  of  the  Spirit  ?"  said  Jeffreys ;  "  are  you  inspired 
with  the  Holy  Ghost?"  "  Sir,"  answered  Julius  Palmer, 
"  no  man  can  believe,  but  by  the  inspiration  of  the  Holy 
Ghost.  Therefore,  if  I  were  not  a  spiritual  man,  and  in- 
spired with  God's  Spirit,  I  were  not  a  true  Christian.  '  He 
that  hath  not  the  Spirit  of  Christ  is  none  of  his.'  "  To  this, 
Jeffreys  could  only  reply,  "  I  perceive  you  lack  no  words;" 
and  was  admirably  answered  by  the  young  martyr,  "Christ 
hath  promised  not  only  to  give  us  store  of  words  necessary, 
but  with  them  such  force  of  matter  as  the  gates  of  hell 
shall  not  be  able  to  withstand,  or  to  prevail  against  it." 
Jeffreys  remarked,  "  Christ  made  such  a  promise  to  his 
apostles  ;  I  trow  you  will  not  compare  with  them."  "With 
the  holy  apostles  I  may  not  compare,"  replied  Palmer ; 
"  neither  have  I  any  affiance  in  my  own  wit  or  learning, 
which  I  know  is  but  small :  yet  this  promise  I  am  certain 
pertaineth  to  all  such  as  are  appointed  to  defend  God's  truth 
against  his  enemies,  in  the  time  of  their  persecution  for  the 
same."  "  Then  it  pertaineth  not  to  thee,"  said  Jeffreys. 
Palmer  rejoined,  "Yes,  I  am  right  well  assured  that  through 
his  grace  it  pertaineth  at  this  present  to  me,  as  it  shall,  no 
doubt,  appear,  if  you  give  me  leave  to  dispute  with  you 
before  this  audience,  in  the  defence  of  all  that  I  have  there 
written."  Jeffreys  replied,  "Thou  art  but  a  beardless  boy, 
started  up  yesterday  out  of  the  schools ;  and  dost  thou  pre- 
sume to  offer  disputation,  or  to  encounter  with  a  doctor?" 
Palmer  answered,  "  Remember,  master  doctor,  '  The  wind 
bloweth  where  it  listeth  ;'  and  in  another  place,  '  Out  of  the 
mouths  of  babes  and  sucklings  thou  hast  perfected  praise:' 
and  '  Thou  hast  hidden  these  things  from  the  wise  and  pru- 
dent, and  hast  revealed  them  unto  babes.'  God  is  not  tied 
to  time,  wit,  learning,  place,  or  person.  And  although  your 
wit  and  learning  be  greater  than  mine,  yet  your  belief  in 
the  truth,  and  zeal  to  defend  the  same  is  no  greater  than 
mine." 

Before  any  reply  could  be  made  to  this  beautiful  speech, 
the  register  interposed  saying,  "  Sir,  if  you  suffer  him  thus 
impudently  to  trifle  with  you,  he  will  never  have  done." 
Jeffreys  took  the  hint,  and  went  on :  "  Well,  ye  shall  un- 
derstand that  I  have  it  not  in  commission  at  this  present 
to  dispute  with  you :  neither  were  it  meet  that  we  should 


JULIUS    PALMER.  169 

call  again  into  question  such  articles  as  are  already  dis- 
cussed, and  perfectly  defined,  by  our  holy  mother  the 
church,  which  we  ought  to  believe  without  any  why  or 
wherefore  as  the  creed  lelleth  us.  But  the  cause  why  ye 
be  now  called  hither,  is  that  ye  might  be  examined  upon 
such  articles  as  are  ministered  against  you,  and  such  mat- 
ter as  is  here  contained  in  your  hand-writing,  that  it  may 
be  seen  whether  you  will  stand  to  it  or  nay.  How  say  you 
to  this?"  Palmer  answered,  "By  your  holy  church,  you 
mean  the  synagogue  of  Rome,  which  is  not  universal,  but 
a  particular  church  of  shavelings.  The  catholic  church  I 
believe,  yet  not  for  her  own  sake,  but  because  she  is  holy; 
that  is  to  say,  a  church  that  groundeth  her  belief  upon  the 
word  of  her  spouse,  Christ."  "  Leave  railing,"  said  Jef- 
freys, "and  answer  me  directly  to  my  question.  Will  you 
stand  to  your  writing,  or  will  you  not?"  "If  you  can 
prove  any  sentence  therein  comprised  not  to  stand  with 
God's  word,  I  will  presently  recant  it,"  replied  Palmer. 
"  Thou  impudent  fellow,"  cried  Jeffreys,  "  have  I  not  told 
thee  that  I  came  not  to  dispute  with  thee,  but  to  examine 
thee?"  Here  the  priest  of  Inglefield  came  to  his  assistance; 
and  pointing  to  the  pix,  asked  Julius,  "  What  seest  thou 
yonder?"  He  replied,  "A  canopy  of  silk  broidered  with 
gold."  "  Yea,"  said  the  priest,  "  but  what  is  within  it?" 
"  A  piece  of  bread  in  a  clout,  I  trow."  On  this  the  other 
exclaimed,  "  Thou  art  as  froward  a  heretic  as  ever  I  talked 
withal."  He  then  spake  much  of  the  confiteor,  and  other 
parts  of  the  mass ;  then  asked,  "  Do  you  not  believe  that 
they  which  receive  the  holy  sacrament  of  the  altar,  do  truly 
eat  Christ's  natural  body?"  Palmer  answered,  "  If  the  sa- 
crament of  the  Lord's  supper  be  ministered  as  Christ  did 
ordain  it,  the  faithful  receivers  do  indeed,  spiritually  and 
truly,  eat  and  drink  in  it  Christ's  natural  body  and  blood." 
"The  faithful  receivers!"  cried  the  priest;  "ye  cannot 
blear  our  eyes  with  such  sophistry.  Do  not  all  manner  of 
receivers,  good  and  bad,  faithful  and  unfaithful,  receive 
the  very  natural  body  in  form  of  bread?"  "  No,  sir." 
"  How  prove  you  that?"  demanded  the  priest.  Palmer  re- 
plied, "  By  this  place,  '  He  that  eateth  me,  shall  live  by 
me.'  "  The  priest  then  said,  "  See  that  fond  fellow;  while 
he  taketh  himself  to  be  a  doctor  of  the  law,  you  shall  see 
me  prove  him  a  stark  foolish  daw.  Do  you  not  read  like- 
wise, '  Whosoever  calleth  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord  shall 
be  saved?'  Do  none  but  the  godly  call  upon  him?    There- 

MARTYROLOGY. VOL.  11.  15 


170  JULIUS    PALMER. 

fore  you  must  mark  how  St.  Paul  answereth  you.  He 
saith  that  the  wicked  do  eat  the  true  body  to  their  con- 
demnation." 

Palmer  wished  to  give  him  a  full  answer,  but  the  priest 
would  not  hear  it;  crying  out  still,  "  What  sayest  thou  to 
St.  Paul  ?"  "  I  say,"  replied  Palmer,  "  that  St,  Paul  hath 
no  such  words."  "  See,"  cries  the  priest,  "  the  impudent 
fellow  denieth  the  plain  text — '  He  that  eateth  and  drinketh 
the  body  of  the  Lord  unworthily  is  guilty  of  judgment,'  " 
"  I  beseech  you,  lend  me  your  book,"  said  Palmer.  "  Not 
so,"  replied  the  priest.  But  the  sheriff  entreated  him  to  do 
so,  and  at  last  it  was  handed  to  Palmer,  who  said,  "  Your  own 
book  hath,  '  He  that  eateth  this  bread,'  "  "  But  St,  Jerome's 
translation  hath  '  body,' "  said  the  priest,  "  Not  so,  Mr,  Par- 
son," answered  Palmer ;  "  and  God  be  praised  that  I  have 
in  the  mean  season  shut  up  your  lips  with  your  own  book," 
Jeffreys  now  resumed,  saying,  "  It  skilleth  no  matter  whe- 
ther ye  write  bread  or  body,  for  we  are  able  to  prove  that 
he  meant  the  body.  And  whereas  you  say  they  eat  it,  spi- 
ritually,  that  is  but  a  blind  shift  of  descant."  "  What 
should  I  say  else?"  asked  Palmer.  Jeffreys  replied,  "  As 
holy  church  saith,  really,  carnally,  substantially."  Palmer 
observed,  "  And  with  as  good  scripture  I  may  say,  grossly, 
monstrously,"  "  Thou  speakest  wickedly,"  said  Jeffreys. 
"But  tell  me,  is  Christ  present  in  the  sacrament,  or  no?" 
Palmer  said,  "He  is  present."  "How  is  he  present?" 
Jeffreys  inquired.  Palmer  answered,  "  The  doctors  say, 
modo  ineffahili.  Therefore  why  do  you  ask  me?  Would 
God  you  had  a  mind  ready  to  believe  it,  or  I  a  tongue  able 
to  express  it  unto  you!" 

Jeffreys  then  asked  him,  what  he  said  to  the  baptism  of 
infants;  he  replied,  "I  say,  that  it  standeth  with  God's 
word ;  and  therefore  it  ought  of  necessity  to  be  retained  in 
the  church."  Jeffreys  remarked,  "Ye  have  forgotten  your- 
self, I  wis ;  for  ye  write  that  children  may  be  saved  with- 
out it."  "  So  I  write,  and  so  I  say,"  answered  Palmer. 
"  Then  it  is  not  necessary  to  be  frequented  and  continued  in 
the  church,"  said  Jeffreys,  "  Your  argument  is  not  good, 
master  doctor,"  observed  Palmer,  "  Will  you  stand  to  it?" 
says  Jeffreys,     "  Yea,  master  doctor,  God  willing," 

No  more  of  the  examination  was  preserved ;  but  it  ap- 
pears that  the  sheriff.  Sir  Richard  Abridges,  who  had  al- 
ready shown  some  kind  feeling  for  the  prisoner,  sent  for 
him  to  his  house  the  same  day,  after  dinner,  and  in  the  pre- 


JULIUS    PALMER.  171 

sence  of  several  gentlemen,  his  guests,  in  the  most  friendly 
way  entreated  him  to  revoke  his  opinion ;  to  spare  his 
young  years,  wit,  and  learning.  "  If  thou  wilt  be  conform- 
able," said  he,  "  and  show  thyself  corrigible  and  repentant, 
in  good  faith  1  promise  thee  before  the  company,  I  will  give 
thee  meat  and  drink,  and  books,  and  ten  pound  yearly,  so 
long  as  thou  wilt  dwell  with  me.  And  if  thou  wilt  set  thy 
mind  to  marriage,  I  will  procure  thee  a  wife  and  a  farm, 
and  help  to  stuff  and  fit  thy  farm  for  thee.  How  sayest 
thou  ?"  For  this  offer,  which  appears  to  have  been  made 
through  a  real  good  will,  and  compassionate  feeling  for  the 
interesting  young  martyr,  Palmer  thanked  him  very  courte- 
ously, and  farther  enlarged,  but  very  modestly  and  reve- 
rently, on  the  great  truths  of  the  religion  which  he  held  : 
concluding  by  declaring  that  as  he  had  already  in  two 
places  renounced  his  living  for  Christ's  sake,  so  he  would, 
with  God's  grace  be  ready  to  surrender  and  yield  up  his 
life  also  for  the  same,  when  God  should  send  time.  When 
Sir  Richard  had  heard  him  out,  and  perceived  his  steadi- 
ness, he  said.  "  Well,  Palmer,  then  I  perceive  one  of  us 
twain  shall  be  damned.  For  we  be  of  two  faiths,  and  cer- 
tain I  am  that  there  is  but  one  faith  that  leadeth  to  life  and 
salvation."  "  O  sir,"  said  Julius,  "  I  hope  that  we  both 
shall  be  saved."  Sir  Richard  asked,  "  How  may  that  be?" 
He  sweetly  replied,  "  Right  well,  sir.  For  it  has  pleased 
our  merciful  Saviour,  according  to  the  gospel  parable,  to 
call  me  at  the  third  hour  of  the  day,  even  in  my  flowers, 
at  the  age  of  four-and-twenty  years  ;  even  so  I  trust  he  hath 
called,  and  will  call  you  at  the  eleventh  hour  of  your  old 
age,  and  give  you  everlasting  life  for  your  portion."  "  Say- 
est thou  sol"  returned  the  kind  old  man:  "Well,  Palmer, 
well,  I  would  I  might  have  thee  but  one  month  in  my 
house  :  I  doubt  not  but  I  would  convert  thee,  or  thou  should- 
est  convert  me." 

Mr.  Winchcomb  was  also  moved  to  say,  "  Take  pity  on 
thy  golden  years,  and  pleasant  flowers  of  lusty  youth,  be- 
fore it  be  too  late."  But  Julius  Palmer  answered,  "  Sir,  I 
long  for  those  springing  flowers  that  shall  never  fade  away." 
"  If  thou  be  at  that  point,"  said  Winchcomb,  "  I  have  done 
with  thee." 

Palmer  was  led  back  to  the  dark  cell ;  but  the  two  other 
simple  believers,  Askin  and  Gwin,  were  called  before  the 
consistory  the  same  afternoon,  condemned,  and  delivered 
to  the  sheriff. 


172  JULIUS    PALMER. 

The  next  morning,  the  sixteenth  of  July,  Palmer  was 
summoned,  and  required  to  subscribe  to  certain  articles, 
which  they  had  drawn  out,  touching  the  cause  of  his  con- 
demnation :  in  the  beginning  of  which  were  heaped  together 
many  grievous  terms,  respecting  his  faith,  as  horrible,  he- 
retical, damnable,  devilish,  and  execrable  doctrine.  To  this 
Palmer  refused  to  subscribe;  affirming  that  the  doctrine 
which  he  professed  was  not  such,  but  good  and  sound  doc- 
trine. Jeffreys  said,  "  Ye  may  see,  good  people,  what  shifts 
these  heretics  seek,  to  escape  burning,  when  they  see  jus- 
tice ministered  unto  them.  But  I  tell  thee,  this  style  is 
agreeable  to  the  law,  and  therefore  I  cannot  alter  it." 
"  Then  I  cannot  subscribe  to  it,"  said  Palmer.  Jeffreys 
asked,  "  Wilt  thou  then  crave  mercy,  if  thou  like  not  jus- 
tice, and  revoke  thy  heresy?"  Palmer  replied,  "I  forsake 
the  pope,  and  his  popelings,  with  all  popish  heresy." 
"  Then  subscribe  the  articles,"  said  Jeffreys.  "  Alter  the 
epithets,  and  I  will  subscribe."  At  last  Jeffreys  bade  him 
subscribe,  and  qualify  the  matter  with  his  own  pen;  which 
he  immediately  did.  Jeffreys  then  proceeded  to  read  the 
popish  sentence  of  his  cruel  condemnation ;  and  delivered 
him  to  the  secular  power,  to  be  burned  the  same  afternoon, 
at  five  o'clock. 

Within  one  hour  before  they  went  to  the  place  of  their 
execution,  Palmer,  in  the  presence  of  many  people,  thus 
addressed  his  fellow  martyrs.  "  Brethren,  be  of  good  cheer 
in  the  Lord,  and  faint  not.  Remember  the  words  of  our 
Saviour  Christ,  where  he  saith,  Happy  are  ye  when  men 
shall  revile  you  and  persecute  you  for  righteousness'  sake. 
Rejoice  and  be  glad,  for  great  is  your  reward  in  heaven. 
Fear  not  them  that  kill  the  body,  and  be  not  able  to  touch 
the  soul.  God  is  faithful,  and  will  not  suffer  us  to  be 
tempted  farther  than  we  shall  be  able  to  bear  it.  We  shall 
not  end  our  lives  in  the  fire,  but  make  a  change  for  a  better 
life.  Yea,  for  coals  we  shall  receive  pearls.  For  God's 
Holy  Spirit  testifieth  our  spirit  that  he  hath  even  now  pre- 
pared for  us  a  sweet  supper  in  heaven,  for  his  sake  which 
suffered  first  for  us." 

With  these  and  many  like  words,  he  not  only  comforted 
the  hearts  of  his  poor  brethren  who  were  as  sheep  appointed 
to  be  slain  with  him,  but  drew  plentiful  tears  from  the 
eyes  of  many  who  heard  him.  While  they  were  singing 
a  psalm,  came  the  sheriff,  Sir  Richard  Abridges,  and  the 
bailiffs  of  the  town,  with  a  great  company  of  harnessed  and 


JULIUS    PALMER.  173 

weaponed  men,  to  conduct  them  to  the  fire.  When  they 
were  come  to  the  place  where  they  should  suffer,  they  tell 
all  three  to  the  ground ;  and  while  the  other  two  made 
their  prayers  secretly  to  Almighty  God,  Palmer  with  an 
audible  voice,  rehearsed  the  thirty-tirst  psalm.  As  he  rose 
from  the  earth,  there  came  behind  him  two  popish  priests, 
exhorting  him  yet  to  recant  and  save  his  soul.  Palmer 
answered,  "  Away,  away;  tempt  me  no  longer.  Away,  I 
say,  from  me,  all  ye  that  work  iniquity;  for  the  Lord  hath 
heard  the  voice  of  my  tears."  They  then  put  off  their 
raiment,  went  to  the  stake  and  kissed  it ;  and  when  they 
were  bound  to  the  post,  Palmer  said,  "  Good  people, 
pray  for  us,  that  we  may  persevere  to  the  end.  And  for 
Christ's  sake  beware  of  popish  teachers,  for  they  deceive 

As  he  spake  this,  a  servant  of  one  of  the  bailiffs  threw 
a  fagot  at  his  face,  causing  the  blood  to  gush  out  in  seve- 
ral places:  on  which  Sir  Richard  Abridges  not  only  reviled 
the  wretch  as  a  cruel  tormentor,  but  with  his  sheriff''s  statf 
dealt  him  such  a  blow  as  broke  his  head,  and  made  the 
blood  run  down  his  ears.  When  the  fire  was  kindled,  and 
began  to  take  hold  on  their  bodies,  they  lifted  up  their 
hands  towards  heaven,  as  quietly  and  cheerfully  as  though 
they  felt  no  smart,  and  cried,  "  Lord  Jesus  strengthen  us : 
Lord  Jesus  assist  us  :  Lord  Jesus  receive  our  souls  !"  and 
so  continued  without  any  struggling,  holding  up  their 
hands,  knocking  on  their  hearts,  and  calling  on  the  name 
of  Jesus. 

It  was  remarked  as  an  extraordinary  thing  that  after  their 
three  heads,  by  the  raging  force  of  the  fire  had  fallen  to- 
gether, and  formed  as  it  were  one  lump  of  cinder,  so  that 
no  one  doubted  they  were  all  dead,  suddenly  Julius  Pal- 
mer, as  if  waked  out  of  sleep,  moved  his  tongue  and  jaws, 
and  was  heard  to  pronounce  this  word,  JESUS.  So,  being 
resolved  into  ashes,  he  yielded  to  God  as  joyful  a  soul,  con- 
firmed with  the  sweet  promises  of  Christ,  as  any  one  that 
ever  was  called  beside,  to  suffer  for  his  blessed  name.  God 
grant  us  all  to  be  moved  with  the  like  spirit,  working  in  our 
hearts  constantly  to  stand  in  defence  and  confession  of 
Christ's  holy  gospel  to  the  end.     Amen. 

And  now,  in  place  of  any  other  remark,  we  will  lay  be- 
fore the  reader  at  the  close  of  this  most  affecting  history, 
the  observations  with  which  John  Fox  prefaces  it.  Modern 
liberality  might  recoil  from  the  force  of  his  language  if  in- 
15* 


174  JULIUS    PALMER. 

serted  in  its  proper  place :  but  who  shall  quarrel  with  it, 
after  accompanying  him  through  the  foregoing  details  ? 

"  As  all  God's  works  are  wondrous,  in  calling  of  all  sorts 
of  men  to  confirm  his  truth,  and  to  bear  witness  unto  his 
assured  and  infallible  word,  which  the  adversaries  have  de- 
praved and  corrupted  with  their  false  glosses,  to  establish 
the  fleshly  kingdom  of  Antichrist,  and  to  purchase  security 
in  the  world,  which  they  seek  to  keep  in  their  possession 
by  all  means  possible,  rather  cursing  with  the  thunderbolt 
of  excommunication,  burning,  hanging,  drowning,  racking, 
scourging,  and  persecuting  by  secret  practice  and  open  vio- 
lence the  simple  sheep  of  our  Saviour  Christ  than  that  their 
false,  forged  packing  should  be  detected,  their  estimation 
impaired,  their  kitchen  cooled,  or  their  rents,  revenues, 
goods,  lands  and  possessions  abated  ;  I  say,  as  God's  works 
be  wonderful,  which  chooseth  some  of  all  sorts  to  confess 
his  gospel,  so  there  is  no  one  example  in  the  whole  godly 
fellowship  of  martyrs,  more  to  be  marked,  yea,  more  to  be 
wondered  at,  than  this :  that  one  which  all  king  Edward's 
days  was  a  papist  within  the  university  of  Oxford,  and  so 
obstinate  as  that  he  did  utterly  abhor  all  godly  prayer  and 
sincere  preaching,  and  almost  of  all  them  with  whom  he 
lived  was  therefore  likewise  abhorred,  and,  as  I  may  say, 
pointed  at  with  the  finger,  yet  did  after,  in  queen  Mary's 
time,  suffer  most  cruel  death  at  the  papists'  hands  at  New- 
bury, in  Berkshire,  for  the  most  ready  and  zealous  profes- 
sion of  the  blessed  truth." 

Fox  gained  his  information  from  those  who  intimately 
knew  Julius  Palmer;  and  who  were  personally  present 
during  his  false  accusation,  cruel  imprisonment,  subsequent 
examinations,  and  final  murder.  The  story  presents  an 
awful  picture,  or  rather  the  reality  of  what  popery  is.  Let 
those  who  would  qualify  the  expression  by  saying  rather, 
what  popery  was,  produce  some  sufficient  testimony  that 
the  church  of  Rome  has  ever  yet  rescinded  those  sangui- 
nary decrees,  which,  until  formally  set  aside  by  an  equally 
public  and  authoritative  council  with  that  of  Trent,  are, 
and  MUST  be  the  standing  laws  of  her  antichristian  syna- 
gogue. 

The  story  which  follows  that  of  Julius  Palmer,  presents 
a  fearful  variety  in  the  scene  of  bloodshed  ;  and  leaves  per- 
haps a  darker  blot  upon  the  page  than  any  which  has  yet 
stained  it.  There  was  not  even  the  semblance  of  a  proof 
that  the  poor  victims  had  offended  against  the  papal  power. 


THE    GUERNSEY    VICTIMS.  175 

The  facts  are  these.  In  the  isle  of  Guernsey  a  woman  of 
very  abandoned  character,  named  Vincent  Gosseti,  stole  a 
silver  cup,  which  she  took  to  an  honest  simple  neighbour, 
Perotine  Massey,  desiring  her  to  lend  her  sixpence  upon  it. 
Perotine,  convinced  that  it  was  stolen,  gave  her  the  six- 
pence, and  took  the  cup,  in  order  to  discover  the  owner 
and  restore  it.  She  did  so ;  and  the  person  who  was  rob- 
bed apprehended  Vincent,  who  at  once  confessed  the  fact, 
and  otiered,  if  sixpence  was  given  her,  to  redeem  and  re- 
store the  vessel.     This  was  done. 

The  officers  who  had  accompanied  this  thief  to  the  house 
where  Perotine  dwelt  with  her  mother  and  sister,  reported 
to  have  seen  there  a  pewter  dish,  from  which  some  name 
or  inscription  had  been  scratched  out ;  which  led  them  to 
surmise  that  the  article  had  been  stolen.  On  this  supposi- 
tion, the  three  women  were  taken  into  custody  and  impri- 
soned. After  some  time  they  were,  at  their  earnest  entrea- 
ty, brought  to  trial ;  when  it  appeared  from  the  testimony 
of  all  their  neighbours  and  acquaintance,  that  their  lives 
were  irreproachably  honest ;  their  characters  above  sus- 
picion, and  the  only  fault  found  with  them  by  those  who 
knew  them,  was  that  they  failed  in  obedience  to  the  com- 
mands of  "  holy  church."  The  result  of  the  trials  was,  that 
Vincent  Gosset  was  whipped,  set  in  the  pillory,  and  banish- 
ed from  the  island  ;  while  the  three  women,  Catherine  Caw- 
ches,  Guillemine  Gilbert,  and  Perotine  Massey,  were  re- 
manded to  prison  for  not  coming  to  mass. 

This  matter  appertaining  to  the  spiritual  power,  their 
worthy  coadjutors  of  the  temporal  arm  sent  a  notification 
to  Jacques  Amy  the  dean  and  his  curates,  apprising  them 
that  the  women  were  suspected  of  heresy.  The  poor  crea- 
tures were  then  examined  by  the  justices  touching  their 
faith,  when  they  said  they  would  obey  and  keep  the  ordi- 
nances of  the  king  and  queen,  and  the  commandments  of 
the  church;  notwithstanding  that  they  had  said  and  done 
the  contrary  in  the  time  of  king  Edward,  in  showing  obe- 
dience to  his  ordinances  and  commandments  before.  They 
were  then  sent  back  to  prison,  till  an  answer  should  arrive 
from  the  dean  and  his  accomplices,  which  answer  was  a 
condemnation  of  the  parties  for  heresy,  without  having 
heard  a  word  even  of  the  foregoing  examination.  When 
the  bailiff  and  jurates  found  that  the  women  had  not  been 
questioned  by  the  clergy,  they  refused  to  confirm  the  sen- 
tence that  day;  and  sent  them  to  these  wolves  in  shepherds' 


176  THE    CUERNSEY    VICTIMS. 

guise,  who,  after  a  separate  private  examination,  of  which 
no  account  on  record  was  ever  given,  recommitted  them  to 
the  castle;  and  within  a  fortnight  afterwards,  directed  this 
final  sentence  to  the  secular  power;  that  Catherine  Caw- 
ches  and  her  two  daughters  were  found  heretics,  and  con- 
demned and  judged  on  that  day  to  be  burned,  until  they  be 
consumed  to  ashes,  in  the  place  accustomed,  with  the  con- 
fiscation of  all  their  goods,  movables,  and  heritages  to  be 
in  the  hands  of  the  king  and  queen's  majesties,  according 
and  after  the  effect  of  a  sentence  delivered  in  justice  by  Mr. 
Dean  and  the  curates,  the  13lh  day  of  July,  1556. 

The  poor  unoffending,  ignorant  creatures  at  once  appeal- 
ed to  the  king  and  queen  against  this  horrible  act  of  blood- 
thirsty malice:  but  of  this  the  murderers  would  not  hear: 
and  they  were  directly  led  to  the  place  of  slaughter.  To 
enter  fully  on  what  ensued  is  impossible — human  nature 
recoils  from  it.  Three  stakes  were  set  up;  to  the  central 
one  was  fastened  the  mother,  her  two  daughters  being  on 
either  side.  An  attempt  was  made  to  strangle  them;  but 
the  rope  broke,  probably  from  being  burnt,  and  they  all 
fell  alive  into  the  fire,  the  intenseness  of  which  was  suffi- 
cient to  burst  their  tortured  bodies. 

It  was  then  that  a  fourth  victim  was  discovered  :  a  fine 
little  boy,  the  offspring  of  Perotine,  was  seen  lying  among 
the  flames,  and  thence  was  snatched  unhurt  by  a  bystander, 
who  laid  the  poor  babe  on  the  grass.  But  who  should  dare 
to  rescue  a  heretic  from  the  strong  grasp  of  the  holy 
catholic  church?  Without  a  judicial  order  nothing  could 
be  done;  so  the  little  innocent  was  taken  up  and  carried  to 
the  provost,  who  declining  to  decide  on  so  difficult  a  point, 
sent  it  to  the  bailiff:  and  he  too  orthodox  to  err  on  the  side 
of  mercy,  humanity,  or  common  justice,  gave  orders  to 
take  it  back,  and  throw  it  into  the  flames.  And  so,  to 
quote  the  exquisite  language  of  Fox,  the  infant,  baptized 
in  his  own  blood,  to  fill  up  the  number  of  God's  innocent 
saints,  was  both  born  and  died  a  martyr;  leaving  behind 
to  the  world,  which  it  never  saw,  a  spectacle  wherein  the 
whole  world  may  see  the  Herodian  cruelty  of  this  graceless 
generation  of  catholic  tormentors. 

In  the  early  part  of  Elizabeth's  reign,  Matthew  Cawches, 
brother  of  the  elder  victim,  presented  a  supplication  to  her 
majesty's  commissioners,  relating  the  above  facts  attested 
by  the  neighbours.  The  queen  ordered  an  immediate  in- 
quiry into  the  matter,  which  ended  in  the  dispossession  of 


THOMAS    MOOR. 


177 


the  villanous  dean  of  all  his  livings,  and  his  committal  to 
prison.  The  accessories  to  this  "  bloody  murder,"  as  it 
was  rightly  termed,  were  obliged  publicly  to  acknowledge 
their  crime  in  wrongfully  condemning  the  three  women 
and  the  infant,  and  having  at  the  same  time  also  knowingly 
acquitted  a  wilful  murderer;  and  on  this  open  confes- 
sion and  submission  their  pardon  was  granted.  It  was 
perhaps  necessary ;  for  had  queen  Elizabeth  commenced 
executing  justice  upon  all  who  could  be  proved  to  have 
committed  barbarous  murders,  with  their  accessories  before, 
at,  and  after  the  fact,  she  must  have  well  nigh  depopulated 
the  whole  realm  of  England:  which  may  God,  of  his  infi- 
nite mercy,  even  yet  preserve  from  the  withering  curse  of 
popery,  for  his  dear  Son's  sake  !    Amen. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

PERSECUTIONS — JOAN      WASTE — AND     OTHERS PRISONERS     FAMISHED 

VISITATION   OF     CAMBRIDGE — BUCER     AND     PHAGIUS — MORE    MARTYR- 
DOMS. 

The  bloody  rage  of  this  persecution  spared  neither  man, 
woman,  nor  child,  wife  nor  maid,  lame,  blind,  nor  cripple : 
and  so  through  all,  men  and  women,  as  there  was  no 
difference  either  of  age  or  sex  considered,  so  neither  was 
there  any  condition  or  quality  respected  of  any  person. 
Whosoever  he  were  who  held  not  as  they  did,  of  the  pope 
and  sacrament  of  the  altar,  were  he  learned  or  unlearned, 
wise,  or  a  simple  innocent,  all  went  to  the  fire:  as  may 
appear  farther,  by  the  instance  of  a  poor  young  man, 
named  Thomas  Moor,  a  servant,  in  Leicester,  who,  for 
saying  that  his  Maker  was  in  heaven,  and  not  in  the  pix, 
was  apprehended,  and  brought  before  his  ordinary,  who 
began  by  asking  whether  he  did  not  believe  his  Maker  to 
be  there,  pointing  to  the  high  altar  :  he  said,  "  No."  "  How 
then  dost  thou  believe?"  said  the  bishop.  The  young  man 
answered.  As  his  creed  did  teach  him.  The  bishop  went 
on ;  "  And  what  is  that  yonder,  that  thou  seest  above  the 
altar?"  Moor  answered,  "  Forsooth,  I  cannot  tell  what  you 
would  have  me  to  see.  I  see  there  fine  clothes,  with  golden 
tassels,  and  other  gay  gear,  hanging  about  the  pix  :  what 


178  JOAN    WASTE. 

is  within,  I  cannot  see."  "  Why,"  said  his  spiritual  pastor, 
"  dost  thou  not  believe  Christ  to  be  there,  flesh,  blood  and 
bones?"  "  No,  that  I  do  not,"  he  replied. 

Upon  this,  without  further  preface,  the  bishop  read  the 
sentence,  condemning  the  poor,  but  faithful  servant  of  the 
Lord,  to  death.  He  was  burnt ;  suffering  with  much  joy, 
and  glorying  in  his  Saviour. 

About  the  same  time,  two  men  and  a  woman,  named 
Thomas  Dungate,  John  Foreman,  and  mother  Tree, 
were  burned  at  Grinstead,  in  Sussex ;  who  patiently 
endured,  for  Christ's  sake,  all  the  torments  that  men's 
rage  could  inflict,  and  departed  to  their  eternal  rest. 

The  next  victim  selected  was  a  young  woman  of  twenty- 
two,  named  Joan  Waste,  blind  from  her  birth.  She  lived 
in  Derby;  the  bishop  of  the  diocese,  Ralph  Baine,  with 
Dr.  Draycolt,  his  chancellor,  Sir  John  Port,  and  a  whole 
party  of  officials,  gentry  and  bailiffs,  sat  in  judgment  to 
condemn  the  innocent  blood  of  this  afflicted  girl.  She  was 
the  daughter  of  a  barber,  an  honest,  industrious  poor  man  : 
and  Joan,  notwithstanding  her  blindness,  contrived,  while 
yet  very  young,  to  add  something  to  the  earnings  of  her 
parents,  by  knitting,  or  turning  ropes  with  her  father,  who 
occasionally  worked  at  that  business  also  ;  and  it  was 
remarked  of  her,  that  in  no  case  would  she  be  idle.  When 
deprived  of  both  parents,  she  resided  with  her  brother; 
and  in  the  days  of  king  Edward  of  blessed  memory,  she 
embraced  the  privilege  of  hearing  the  church  service  in  a  lan- 
guage that  she  could  understand.  It  became  her  daily  delight 
to  hear  sermons  and  homilies,  and  to  join  in  public  worship  ; 
until,  by  the  influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  she  became  well 
grounded  and  settled  in  the  saving  faith  of  the  gospel. 
Redoubling  her  diligence,  she  earned  money  enough  to  buy 
a  New  Testament,  and  being  unable  to  use  it,  because  of 
her  total  blindness,  she  went  to  a  man  named  John  Hurt, 
seventy  years  of  age,  who  was  a  prisoner  for  debt  in  the 
castle  of  Derby.  This  poor  old  captive  daily  read  to  her 
a  chapter  from  her  beloved  book,  unless  by  illness,  or  other 
unavoidable  cause,  he  was  hindered;  in  which  case  the 
blind  girl  took  her  testament  to  the  parish  clerk,  or  some 
other  person  who  could  read.  When  she  found  none 
willing  to  do  it  freely,  she  would  bargain  for  so  many 
chapters,  for  a  price;  devoting  the  few  pence  saved  from 
her  earnings  to  the  purchase  of  this  greatest  of  all  bless- 
ings :    and  thus,  every  day  she  had  her  portion  of  that 


JOAN    WASTE,  179 

which  to  her,  as  to  David,  was  more  to  be  desired  than 
gold;  sweeter  also  than  honey  and  the  honeycomb. 

Another  thing  was  remarked  of  Joan  Waste ;  that  she 
could,  without  a  guide,  readily  find  her  way  to  any  church 
in  the  town  of  Derby,  or  to  any  place  or  person  where  she 
had  once  enjoyed  the  hearing  of  God's  word.  It  cannot 
be  wondered  at,  that,  thus  constantly  exercised  in  the 
blessed  scriptures,  she  was  able  to  repeat  whole  chapters 
with  ease ;  and  could  reprove  sin,  and  impugn  errors  in 
doctrine,  by  unanswerable  arguments  drawn  from  the 
source  of  all  her  knowledge.  Her  life  also  was  fully 
accordant  with  the  profession  that  she  made ;  and  when  the 
accession  of  Mary  spread  darkness  again  over  the  land, 
she  continued  steadfast,  unmovable,  abounding  in  the  work 
of  the  Lord,  and  maintaining  an  open  protest  against  the 
abominations  that  were  done.  For  this  she  was  called  to 
account,  before  the  wretched  bishop  and  his  guilty  accom- 
plices. The  articles  exhibited  against  her  were,  first,  that  she 
did  hold  the  sacrament  of  the  altar  to  be  only  a  memorial  or 
representation  of  Christ's  body,  and  material  bread  and 
not  his  natural  body  unless  it  were  duly  received.  And 
that  it  ought  not  to  be  reserved  from  time  to  time  over  the 
altar,  but  immediately  to  be  received.  Secondly,  that  she 
held,  that  in  receiving  the  sacrament  of  the  altar  she  did 
not  receive  the  same  body,  that  was  born  of  the  virgin 
Mary,  and  suffered  upon  the  cross  for  our  redemption. 
Thirdly,  she  held  that  Christ  at  his  last  supper  did  not 
bless  the  bread  that  he  had  then  in  his  hands,  but  was 
blessed  himself:  and  by  the  virtue  of  the  words  of  conse- 
cration the  substance  of  the  bread  and  wine  is  not  converted 
into  the  substance  of  the  body  and  blood  of  Christ. 

To  these  she  answered,  that  she  believed  therein  so 
much  as  the  holy  scripture  taught  her,  and  according  to 
what  she  had  heard  preached  unto  her  by  divers  learned 
men  :  whereof  some  suffered  imprisonment,  and  others  suf- 
ered  death  for  the  same  doctrine.  Amongst  these  she  named 
Dr.  Taylor,  who,  she  said,  took  it  upon  his  conscience 
that  the  doctrine  which  he  taught  was  true;  asking  them 
if  they  would  do  so,  in  like  case,  for  their  doctrine?  If  not, 
she  desired  them  for  God's  sake  not  to  trouble  her,  a  blind, 
poor,  and  unlearned  woman,  with  any  further  talk :  and 
she  ended  by  saying  that  she  was  ready,  with  God's  assist- 
ance, to  yield  her  life  for  that  faith,  in  such  sort  as  they 
should  appoint.     The  bishop  and  Dr.  Draycott  pressed  her 


180  JOAN    WASTE. 

with  arguments  on  the  omnipotency  of  Christ,  asking  why 
was  not  Christ  able  as  well  to  make  the  bread  his  body,  as 
to  turn  water  into  wine,  to  raise  Lazarus  from  the  dead, 
and  perform  other  miracles?  To  their  sophistry  they  added 
grievous  threats  of  imprisonment,  torture  and  death,  if 
she  continued  obstinate.  The  poor  girl  then,  probably 
thinking  to  convict  them  of  their  insincerity  in  a  belief 
that  no  rational  person  could  really  entertain,  told  the 
bishop  that  if  he  would  before  that  company  take  it  upon 
his  conscience  that  the  doctrine  which  he  would  have  her 
to  believe  concerning  the  sacrament  was  true,  and  that  he 
would  in  the  dreadful  day  of  judgment  answer  for  her 
therein, — as  Dr.  Taylor,  in  divers  of  his  sermons  had 
offered, — she  would  then  further  answer  them. 

The  bishop  immediately  said  that  he  would  do  so:  but 
Draycott,  the  chancellor,  who  seems  to  have  thirsted  for 
her  blood,  said,  "  My  lord,  you  know  not  what  you  do : 
you  may  in  no  case  answer  for  a  heretic."  Then  he 
demanded  of  Joan  whether  she  would  recant  or  no  ;  telling 
her  she  should  answer  for  herself;  the  bishop  at  once 
yielding  to  the  chancellor's  correction.  The  poor  girl 
perceiving  how  matters  stood,  said  that  if  they  refused  to 
take  on  their  conscience  the  truth  of  what  they  would  have 
her  believe,  she  would  answer  no  further  :  but  desired  them 
to  do  their  pleasure  j  which  they  did,  by  pronouncing  sen- 
tence against  her,  and  committing  her  to  the  bailiffs.  By 
them  she  was  kept  in  prison  for  a  month  or  five  weeks, 
when  they  received  a  writ  from  the  bishop,  requiring  them 
to  bring  her  to  the  parish  church  of  All-hallows,  where 
Dr.  Draycott  was  to  make  a  sermon. 

On  the  appointed  day,  the  doctor  came  to  the  church, 
attended  by  a  train  of  his  worthy  associates.  The  inno- 
cent martyr  was  then  led  thither,  and  placed  before  the 
pulpit,  where  the  doctor  began  to  denounce  the  poor  blind 
creature,  declaring  to  the  people  that  she  was  condemned 
for  denying  the  sacrament  of  the  altar  to  be  the  very  body 
and  blood  of  Christ,  really  and  substantially,  and  was 
thereby  cut  off  from  the  body  of  the  catholic  church.  He 
said,  that  she  was  not  only  blind  of  her  bodily  eyes,  but 
also  blind  in  the  eyes  of  her  soul  :  and  that  as  her  body 
should  be  presently  consumed  with  material  fire,  so  her 
soul  should  be  burned  in  hell  with  everlasting  fire,  as  soon 
as  it  left  the  body,  and  there  remain  world  without  end. 
He  also  informed  his  congregation  that  it  was  not  lawful  to 


VARIOUS    MARTYRS.  181 

pray  for  her;  and  so,  with  many  terrible  threats,  made  an 
end  of  his  sermon,  commanding  the  bailiffs  and  attendant 
gentlemen  to  see  her  executed.  The  blessed  young  believer 
was  then  taken  direct  from  the  church,  to  a  place  called 
the  Windmill  Pit,  near  the  town  ;  and  there,  holding  her 
poor  brother  Roger  by  the  hand,  she  prepared  herself  for 
the  fire,  desiring  the  people  to  pray  with  her,  saying  such 
prayers  as  she  had  learned,  and  calling  on  Christ  for  mercy 
as  long  as  her  life  lasted.  In  the  mean  while  Draycott 
went  to  his  inn,  and  indulged  himself  with  a  comfortable 
sleep  while  his  victim  endured  the  torturing  death  of  the 
flames.  Who  now,  of  the  two,  we  cannot  but  ask,  is  com- 
forted, and  who  tormented? 

On  the  first  of  September,  a  godly,  aged  and  devout 
person,  born  in  Wiltshire,  named  Edmund  Sharpe,  was 
condemned  to  martyrdom  at  Bristol,  where  he  constantly 
and  manfully  persisted  in  the  just  quarrel  of  Christ  and 
his  gospel  against  the  ordinances  of  the  Romish  apostasy. 
He  was  tried,  as  pure  gold,  and  made  a  lively  sacrifice  in 
the  fire ;  in  whose  death,  as  in  that  of  all  his  saints  the 
Lord  was  glorified,  for  the  great  grace  of  steadfastness 
bestowed  on  him. 

In  the  same  month,  four  suffered  at  Mayfield  in  Sussex, 
the  names  of  two  only  being  recorded.  These  were  John 
Hart,  and  Thomas  Ravensdale;  their  companions  were 
a  shoemaker  and  a  currier.  They  all  four  died  in  one  fire, 
praying  and  praising  God,  while  they  yielded  their  lives 
for  the  testimony  of  the  glorious  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ. 

The  day  after  this,  a  young  man,  a  carpenter,  was 
butchered  in  like  manner  at  Bristol  for  the  same  cause  ; 
who  gave  up  his  life  to  the  Lord  with  such  joyful  constancy 
and  triumph  that  all  the  church  of  Christ  had  reason  to 
praise  God  on  his  behalf. 

Then,  at  Wotton  Underedge  in  Gloucestershire,  one 
John  Horn,  and  a  woman,  were  burned  together,  and  died 
very  gloriously ;  proving  that  unto  them  death  was  life, 
whereas  life  with  a  defiled  conscience  would  have  been 
death.  But  fire  was  not  the  only  weapon  found  for  the 
destruction  of  the  Lord's  little  flock,  as  appears  in  the 
story  of  a  poor  family  named  Dangerfield,  in  the  same 
parish  where  the  last  martyrs  suffered.  The  husband,  a 
godly  and  honest  poor  man,  having  been  absent  from  home 
for  a  while,  and  hearing  that  his  wife  had  just  given  birth 
to  her  tenth  child,  hastened  home  to  see  her.     He  was 

MARTYROLOGY. VOL.  II.  16 


182  THE    DANGERFIELDS. 

presently  accused  by  his  neighbours,  and  brought  to  bishop 
Brooks,  who  committed  him  to  prison,  where  he  lay  till  his 
legs  were  nearly  fretted  away  by  the  irons. 

The  woman  was  taken  soon  after  his  apprehension,  from 
her  bed,  with  her  babe,  then  just  fourteen  days  old,  and 
placed  in  the  common  gaol,  amongst  thieves  and  murderers, 
where  the  merciless  creatures  would  not  even  allow  her  to 
come  near  a  fire,  and  her  sufferings  were  of  course  very 
great.  Brooks,  determining  to  effect  by  deceit  what  he  had 
no  prospect  of  otherwise  accomplishing,  sent  for  the  man, 
representing  to  him  that  his  wife  had  recanted,  and  work- 
ing on  the  anxious  feelings  of  the  husband  and  father  until 
he  obtained  from  him  a  promise  of  signing  a  form  of 
recantation,  which  Brooks  drew  out.  He  did  not  then 
recant,  but  engaged  so  to  do  after  a  while,  as  the  price  of 
being  permitted  to  see  his  wife  and  child.  On  visiting  them 
in  the  gaol,  he  discovered  the  wicked  cheat  that  had  been 
practised,  finding  his  poor  wife  not  only  steadfast  in  the 
faith,  but  exceedingly  afflicted  at  the  sight  of  his  intended 
recantation.  "  Alack,"  said  she,  "  how  long  have  we  con- 
tinued one,  and  hath  Satan  so  prevailed,  to  cause  you  to 
break  your  first  vow,  made  to  Christ  in  baptism?"  The 
poor  man,  deeply  grieved  for  his  sin,  departed,  praying  to 
Almighty  God  that  he  would  not  suffer  him  to  live  so  long 
as  to  call  evil  good,  and  good  evil,  or  to  put  darkness  for 
light  and  light  for  darkness.  His  prayer  was  heard  ;  for, 
worn  out  by  cruel  imprisonment,  and  sorrow  of  heart,  he 
fell  sick  on  the  way  home  to  his  desolate  house,  and  died 
before  the  time  arrived  for  fulfilling  his  promise  to  the 
bishop. 

Joan  Dangerfield  continued  in  prison,  till  she  was  brought 
before  the  bishop  for  examination,  of  which  no  account 
remains  :  however,  she  pleased  him  so  little  by  her  answers, 
that  he  sent  her  back  to  her  dungeon,  with  increased 
severities,  where  her  tender  babe,  deprived  of  the  nourish- 
ment that  she  had  no  longer  strength  to  yield,  and  perish- 
ing with  famine  and  cold,  was  taken  away  from  her  and 
shortly  died;  the  mother  following  soon,  of  a  broken  heart. 
In  addition  to  this,  the  mother  of  Dangerfield,  a  helpless 
old  woman  of  eighty,  died  for  want  of  the  attention  and 
comforts  that  there  was  no  one  to  bestow  on  her  in  the 
house  where  she  was  left  alone:  and  thus  were  four  inno- 
cent persons  put  to  death,  by  lingering  pains,  without 
bringing  them  to  public  trial,  or  to  a  public  execution.    The 


VARIOUS    MARTYRS.  183 

nine  young  children  were  dispersed,  no  one  knew  where, 
to  live  as  they  could,  or  to  perish  as  they  might. 

The  month  of  October  was  mari<ed  by  the  burning  of 
John  Kudre,  a  shoemaker,  at  Northampton.  One  who, 
by  the  grace  of  God,  had  renounced  the  false  doctrines  of 
Rome,  and  endured  to  the  end,  earnestly  contending  for  the 
true  faith,  even  in  the  fire  of  martyrdom. 

In  the  castle  of  Chichester,  three  who  were  waiting  their 
crown,  through  the  like  sufferings,  died  of  cruel  handling; 
and  were  buried  in  the  fields ;  and  one  Hooke  was  mar- 
tyred at  Chester. 

In  November,  the  following  atrocity  marked  the  tender 
mercies  of  Nicholas  Harpsfield,  archdeacon  of  Canterbu- 
ry, who,  excepting  Dunning,  of  Norwich,  was  the  most 
barbarous  persecutor  of  that  rank  in  the  whole  nominal 
church.  Some  of  his  victims  in  that  diocese,  who  suffered 
at  his  instigation,  by  sentence  of  Thornton,  bishop  of 
Dover,  and  his  active  assistance  in  harassing  God's  people 
while  under  Bonner's  hand,  have  been  recited ;  the  follow- 
ing exceeds  in  cruelty  all  that  has  yet  been  related 
concerning  him.  There  were  in  Canterbury  castle  fifteen 
godly  persons,  in  bonds  for  the  gospel,  of  whom  not  one 
escaped  with  life;  all  being  either  burned,  or  deliberately 
starved  to  death  in  the  prison.  Of  the  first  who  suffered 
by  fire,  the  story  will  follow  by  and  by;  they  were  ten  in 
number.  The  five  who  remained  were  John  Clerk  and 
DuNSTAN  Chittenden,  not  yet  condemned ;  with  Williaji 
Foster,  Alice  Potkins,  and  John  Archer,  lying  under 
sentence  of  death.  They  had  all  stood  most  boldly  to  the 
confession  of  faith  which  was  laid  against  them  as  the 
crime  of  heresy  :  the  woman,  when  asked  her  age,  replied 
that  it  was  forty-nine  years,  according  to  her  old  age ;  and 
according  to  her  young  age,  since  she  learned  Christ,  she 
was  one  year  old.  They  were  all  in  humble  life,  and  of 
small  learning,  according  to  this  world's  fashion;  but  they 
had  so  learned  Christ  crucified  as  to  prefer  suffering  affliction 
with  his  people  before  all  that  the  world  could  give.  What 
became  of  them,  let  the  reader  gather  from  this  letter, 
which  was  thrown  by  them  out  of  the  window  of  their 
prison,  after  which  they  were  never  heard  of  more. 

"  Be  it  known  to  all  men  that  shall  read  or  hear  read 
these  our  letters,  that  we,  the  poor  prisoners  of  the  castle 
of  Canterbury  for  God's  truth,  are  kept  and  lie  in  cold 
irons ;  and  our  keepers  will  not  suffer   any  meat  to  be 


184  VISITATION   TO    CAMBKIDGE. 

brought  to  us  to  comfort  us.  And  if  any  man  do  send  us 
any  thing,  as  bread,  butter,  cheese,  or  any  other  food, 
the  said  keeper  will  charge  those  that  so  bring  us  any 
thing,  except  money  or  raiment,  to  carry  it  them  again ; 
or  else  if  he  do  receive  any  food  for  any  of  us,  he  doth 
keep  it  for  himself,  and  he  and  his  servants  do  spend  it,  so 
that  we  have  nothing  thereof:  and  thus  the  keeper  keepeth 
away  our  victuals  from  us.  Insomuch  that  there  are  four 
of  us,  prisoners  there  for  God's  truth,  famished  already; 
and  thus  it  is  his  mind  to  famish  us  all.  And  we  think  he 
is  appointed  thereunto  by  the  bishops  and  priests,  and  also 
of  the  justices,  so  to  famish  us ;  and  not  only  us  of  the 
said  castle,  but  also  all  other  prisoners  in  other  prisons  for 
the  like  cause,  to  be  also  famished  :  notwithstanding  we 
write  not  these  letters  to  the  intent  that  we  might  not  afford 
to  be  famished  for  the  Lord  Jesus'  sake  ;  but  for  this  cause 
and  intent,  that  they  having  no  law  to  famish  us  in  prison, 
should  not  do  it  privily,  but  that  the  murderers'  hearts 
should  be  openly  known  to  all  the  world  ;  that  all  men  may 
know  of  what  church  they  are,  and  who  is  their  father." 

It  was,  indeed, from  no  feeling  of  revenge,  neither  from  any 
unwillingness  tosufferthatGod's  dear  martyrs  always  sought 
to  give  every  publicity  to  the  proceedings  of  their  enemies  : 
but  as  the  Lord  had  solemnly  warned  his  church  to  beware 
of  false  teachers,  who  should  come  to  them  in  sheep's 
clothing,  while  inwardly  they  were  ravening  wolves,  and  had 
moreover,  emphatically  given  a  rule  by  which  to  discover 
them,  "Ye  shall  know  them  by  their  fruits,"  the  Christians 
of  those  days  felt  what  Christians  in  every  age  ought  to  feel, 
that  it  was  a  solemn  duty  owing  to  the  whole  body  of  Christ's 
church,  to  reveal  the  poisonous  fruit,  that  all  might  know 
and  shun  the  deadly  tree  which  bore  it.  False  charity  to 
Christ's  enemies  is  the  sinofourday:  in  other  words,  the  beset- 
ting sin  of  our  day  is,  to  commit  high  treason  against  Christ. 
It  has  already  been  noticed  that  cardinal  Pole's  zeal 
against  heresy  found  a  vent,  which,  though  alike  ridiculous, 
disgusting,  and  contemptible,  was  less  cruel  than  that  cho- 
sen by  his  coadjutors.  They  loved  to  suck  the  warm 
blood  from  the  veins  of  the  living:  murder  was  their  trade. 
He  generally  contented  himself  with  mumbling  the  bones 
of  the  dead:  his  pursuit  was  exhumation.  The  year  1557 
was  opened  by  cardinal  Pole,  with  a  solemn  visitation 
of  the  university  of  Cambridge,  which,  as  he  rightly 
judged,  stood  greatly  in  need  of  reformation,  according  to 


VISITATION    TO    CAMBRIDGE.  185 

his  sense  of  the  word.  Cambridge  had  been  one  of  the 
first  among  public  bodies  to  cast  off  the  Romish  yoke ;  and 
had  also  proved  a  nursery  of  true  religion,  where  the  greater 
number  of  those  distinguished  divines  who  had  already  en- 
dured the  flames  of  martyrdom,  first  imbibed  the  pure  milk 
of  the  word.  Martin  Bucer,  too,  had  lately  laboured  there; 
and  by  his  public  interpretation  of  Scripture,  had  done  no 
small  damage  to  the  craft  of  the  shrine-makers. 

The  persons  appointed  to  conduct  this  important  visita- 
tion, were  Scott,  bishop  of  Chester,  Watson,  bishop  of  Lin- 
coln, Christopherson,  of  Chichester,  Cole,  provost  of  Eton 
college,  with  one  Nicholas  Ormanet,  an  Italian  priest,  high 
in  favour  with  the  pope,  and  by  him  sent  into  England  with 
Pole,  to  watch  his  proceedings.  A  citation  was  sent  to  the 
vice-chancellor  of  Cambridge,  willing  him,  with  the  whole 
body  of  divines  and  graduates,  to  be  at  St.  Mary's  church 
on  the  morning  of  the  eleventh  of  January,  there  to  receive 
the  visitors,  and  to  be  prepared  to  lay  before  them  such 
things  as  should  seem  necessary  to  the  proposed  reforma- 
tion of  their  university.  Great  preparations  were  made: 
it  was  resolved  that  the  expenses  of  the  visitors  should  be 
borne  by  the  university  and  colleges ;  and  some  days  be- 
fore the  appointed  meeting,  the  queen's  commissioners  sat 
in  form,  consisting  of  some  high  officers  of  the  place  and 
town,  who  swore  the  high  constables,  and  appointed  two 
for  every  parish,  to  make  inquisition,  on  oath,  for  heresy, 
lollardy,  conspiracy,  and  seditious  words,  tales,  and  ru- 
mours, against  the  king  and  queen :  also  for  heretical  and 
seditious  books,  for  negligence  and  misdemeanour  in  the 
church ;  for  observation  of  ceremonies,  for  ornaments,  and 
stock  of  the  church. 

The  visitors  arrived  on  the  ninth  ;  and  the  first  day  was 
passed  in  bandying  compliments  between  the  entertainers 
and  their  guests.  The  second  they  devoted  to  seeing  sights, 
just,  by  the  way,  stopping  to  interdict  two  churches,  St. 
Mary's,  where  Martin  Bucer  lay  buried,  and  St.  Michael's, 
which  was  similarly  contaminated  by  the  bones  of  Paul 
Phagius.  The  latter  of  these  had  departed  to  a  blessed 
rest  so  long  before  as  1549,  when  he  had  but  lately  com- 
menced what  promised  to  be  a  course  of  eminent  useful- 
ness. Old  Bucer  lived  longer,  and  by  his  laborious  dili- 
gence in  the  Lord's  work,  never  sparing  himself,  nor  al- 
lowing the  infirmities  of  age  to  slacken  his  ardour,  toge- 
ther with  so  singularly  holy  and  blameless  a  life  that  even 
16* 


186  VISITATION    TO    CAMBRIDGE, 

his  popish  adversaries  could  find  no  evil  thing  to  say  of 
him,  he  had  won  such  universal  love  and  respect,  that  his 
funeral  exhibited  an  extraordinary  spectacle  of  all  ranks, 
degrees,  and  parlies,  vying  who  should  most  contribute  to 
honour  his  memory.  Three  or  four  years  had  elapsed 
since  that  time,  and  the  priests  had  never  shown  any  scru- 
ple of  conscience  in  celebrating  their  masses  and  other 
things  in  the  churches  where  these  holy  men  lay  interred. 
However,  the  cardinal's  visitors  discovered  that  pollution 
was  contracted  by  the  vicinity  of  their  heretical  bones;  and 
an  order  was  given  that  in  future  all  the  pageantries  of 
Romish  devotion  should  be  celebrated  in  the  chapel  of 
King's  College. 

The  day  being  come,  a  grand  procession  took  place,  the 
great  cross  being  borne  before  the  visitors  and  commission- 
ers ;  but  somewhat  of  effect  was  lost,  by  the  students'  dis- 
obeying the  order  issued  for  them  to  come  in  their  surplices. 
However,  they  all  assembled  in  great  pomp,  and  the  vice- 
chancellor,  richly  habited,  gave  them  a  sprinkling  of  holy 
water  at  Trinity.  At  Queen's  College  they  underwent  the 
warmer  process  of  fumigation,  or  being  incensed,  as  it  is 
called.  Mr.  Stokes  then  welcomed  them  in  a  lengthy  Latin 
oration,  for  which  the  bishop  of  Chester  returned  thanks, 
saying  among  other  things,  that  their  right  reverend  father, 
the  lord  cardinal,  desired  nothing  so  much  as  with  his  own 
hand  to  sustain  and  hold  up,  now  ready  to  fall,  or  rather  to 
raise  up,  already  fallen  to  the  ground,  the  university  where- 
of he  gladly  took  unto  himself  the  name  and  duty  of  guar- 
dian. He  would  rather  have  come  in  person  to  salute  the 
university,  than  have  sent  visitors  to  correct  it:  but  the  lat- 
ter being  needful,  he  had  appointed  them.  Then  the  bishop 
proceeded  to  admonish  all  offenders  to  return  to  the  right 
way,  to  confess  their  fault,  and  amend  it.  He  promised  them, 
in  that  case,  all  kinds  of  humanity  and  gentleness  at  their 
hands ;  with  an  intimation  of  what  might  be  expected, 
should  they  prove  refractory.  This  passed  at  Queen's  Col- 
lege :  they  then  proceeded  to  King's,  where  a  grand  mass 
was  sung,  during  which  the  Italian  priest  was  observed  to 
use  sundry  gestures  and  ceremonies,  till  then  unknown  in 
the  service,  which  were  set  forth  as  a  pattern  to  be  ever- 
more observed  by  all  who  saw  them.  Then  they  went  to 
St.  Mary's,  which  being  interdicted,  no  mass  could  be  there 
performed :  but  a  virulent  sermon  was  preached  by  one 
master  Peacock,  against  Bilney,  Cranmer,  Latimer,  Rid- 


VISITATION    TO    CAMBRIDGE.  187 

ley,  and  such  heretics :  after  which  they  proceeded  to  the 
business  of  the  visitation.  One  of  the  first  formalities 
included  the  reading  of  a  document,  wherein  was  named 
every  member  of  the  university,  among  whom  was  Robert 
Brassy,  master  of  King's  College,  a  venerable,  worthy  old 
man,  who,  hearing  his  name  recited  next  after  the  vice- 
chancellor's,  said  he  was  there  present,  as  all  the  others 
were;  nevertheless,  as  the  reformation  of  his  house  was 
wholly  reserved  to  the  bishop  of  Lincoln,  both  by  the  king's 
patent,  and  by  confirmation  from  the  bishop  of  Rome,  under 
a  penalty  if  he  should  suffer  any  strangers  to  intermeddle, 
he  openly  protested  in  discharge  of  his  duty,  that  unless 
their  commission  gave  them  authority  and  jurisdiction  upon 
his  college,  either  by  express  words  or  manifest  sense,  he 
utterly  exempted  himself  from  being  present.  This  symp- 
tom of  independence  mightily  displeased  the  visitors,  who 
told  him  that  no  places  or  persons  were  exempted  from  the 
jurisdiction  of  my  lord  cardinal,  by  whom  they  were  depu- 
ted: wherefore  he  had  done  evil  to  call  into  question  autho- 
rity so  well  known  to  all  men.  Chester  seemed  especially 
angry;  for  old  Brassy  had  a  little  before  obtained  the 
honours  of  that  oflice,  in  despite  of  the  bishop,  who  had 
done  all  he  could  against  him. 

Next  day  they  sat  in  King's  College;  probably  because 
it  had  obtained  the  evil  repute  of  never  having  been  without 
a  heretic  or  two,  time  out  of  mind :  and  their  business  be- 
ing to  smell  out  heresy,  it  appeared  a  fair  field  for  starting 
the  game.  There,  however,  they  met  with  somewhat  of  a 
discomfiture  at  the  outset.  An  order  had  been  given  as  to 
the  manner  in  which  they  should  be  received  at  each  col- 
lege: the  members  of  every  house  being  directed  to  adorn 
themselves  in  full  habits  ;  the  master  harnessed  like  a  priest 
going  to  mass,  was  to  advance,  followed  by  every  indivi- 
dual belonging  to  his  college,  robed,  and  ranged  according 
to  rank,  degree,  and  seniority,  to  the  outward  gate  of  the 
college,  and  there  meet  the  cardinal's  delegates.  A  cross 
was  to  be  carried  before  him,  with  holy  water  to  sprinkle 
the  commissioners,  and  incense  to  fumigate  them:  and  so, 
after  these  necessary  services,  they  were  to  be  brought 
with  all  pomp  and  solemnity  to  the  chapel.  Now,  whether 
old  Dr.  Brassy  was  tainted  by  the  infectious  air  of  this  here- 
tical college  over  which  he  presided,  as  the  bishop  of  Ches- 
ter surmised,  is  not  fully  known;  certain  it  is  that  he  laid 
himself  open  to  such  suspicion,  for  when  the  great  person- 


188  VISITATION    TO    CAMBRIDGE. 

ages,  at  the  appointed  hour,  arrived  at  the  outer  gate  of 
King's  College,  neither  master,  fellow,  nor  student,  neither 
cross,  holy  water,  or  censer,  was  there  to  welcome  them ; 
and  they  were  obliged  to  proceed  alone  to  the  church-door, 
where  they  perceived  a  great  bustle;  the  whole  college  party 
were  just  commencing  in  all  haste  to  put  on  their  vestments ; 
and  were  interrupted  in  the  operations  of  the  toilet  by  the 
sudden  entrance  of  the  offended  dignitaries. 

Brassy  immediately  tendered  his  excuses,  first,  acknow- 
ledging that  he  ought  to  have  been  sooner  ready;  secondly, 
he  declared  himself  glad  to  see  them;  promising  in  his  own 
name,  and  in  that  of  all  the  others,  as  much  reverence  as 
might  be,  in  all  matters  concerning  their  common  welfare; 
but  thirdly,  repeating  in  his  own  college  the  same  protes- 
tation against  their  interference  as  he  had  uttered  the  day 
before  in  St.  Mary's  church.  He  softened  this,  by  beseech- 
ing them  not  to  be  offended;  for  that  since  he  only  did  it 
in  discharge  of  his  duty,  he  had  the  juster  cause  to  be  ex- 
cused. The  bishop  of  Chester  interrupted  him  with  a 
frowning  look  and  angry  countenance,  saying,  he  needed 
not  to  repeat  the  things  that  he  had  protested  before,  nor 
they  to  make  further  answer  to  those  things  wherein  they 
had  sufficiently  informed  him  before.  He  rather  feared 
that  their  quarrel  was  not  good,  since  they  made  such  ado 
about  it,  and  sought  such  starting  holes ;  for  so  were  dis- 
eased persons  wont  to  do,  when  for  the  pain  and  grief  they 
are  not  able  to  abide  a  strong  medicine.  As  though,  said 
he,  any  man  were  able  to  grant  so  strong  a  privilege  as  to 
withstand  the  pope's  authority!  finally  admonishing  Brassy 
to  desist  from  such  unprofitable  altercation,  and  to  conform 
himself  to  the  things  that  were  then  in  doing.  After  this, 
they  went  to  mass :  which  finished,  says  Fox,  first  they 
went  with  great  solemnity  to  the  high  altar  of  their  church, 
and  having  there  saluted  their  god,  and  searching  whether 
all  were  well  about  him  or  no,  they  walked  through  all  the 
inner  chapels  of  the  church:  the  church  goods,  the  crosses, 
the  chalices,  the  mass-books,  the  vestments,  and  whatso- 
ever ornaments  were  besides,  were  commanded  to  be 
brought  out  to  them.  When  they  had  satisfied  themselves 
with  the  view  of  these,  and  called  over  by  name  every  fellow 
and  scholar  of  the  house,  they  went  to  the  master's  lodging, 
swearing  them  all  to  answer  every  interrogatory  that  should 
be  put ;  and  so  proceeded  to  the  examination.  Some  of 
the  collegians,  however,  refused  to  be  sworn,  alleging  that 


VISITATION   TO    CAMBRIDGE.  169 

they  had  already  given  the  necessary  guarantee  of  their 
faith  to  the  university;  and  that  it  was  moreover  contrary 
to  all  reason  and  justice  to  swear  a  man  to  criminate  him- 
self. Finally,  after  much  disputation,  they  took  the  oath, 
reserving  a  condition  of  not  impeaching  their  faith  already 
given  to  the  college. 

The  grand  matter,  however,  reserved  for  the  decision  of 
these  papal  delegates,  was  the  case  of  Bucer  and  Phagius. 
Long  and  grave  was  the  deliberation,  at  the  end  of  which 
the  vice-chancellor  and  heads  of  colleges  were  called  on, 
severally,  to  give  their  verdict,  as  to  what  should    be  done 
to  Martin  Bucer.     The  general  sentence  was  this  ;  "  that 
forasmuch  as  Bucer,  while  he  lived,  had  not  only  sowed 
pernicious  and  erroneous   doctrine  among  them,  but  also 
had  himself  been  a  sectary  and  famous  heretic,  erring  from 
the  catholic  church,  and  giving  others  occasion  to  fall  ft-om 
the  same  likewise :  a  supplication  shoul'd  be  made  to  the 
lords  commissioners,  in  the  name  of  the  whole  university, 
that  his  dead  carcase  might  forthwith  be  digged  up, — for 
so  it  was  needful  to  be  done, — to  the  intent  that  inquisition 
might  be  made  as  touching  his  doctrine,  the  which  being 
brought  in  examination,  if  it  were  not  found  to  be  good  and 
wholesome,   the  law  might   proceed  against  him.     For  it 
was  against  the  rule  of  the  holy  canons  that  his  body  should 
be   buried  in  Christian  burial.     Yea,  and  besides  that,  it 
was  to  the  derogation  of  God's  honour,  and  the  violating  of 
his  holy  laws,  with  the  great  peril  of  men's  souls,  and  the 
offence  of  the  faithful,  especially  in  so  difficult  and  conta- 
gious a  time  as  that  was.     Wherefore  it  was  not  to  be  suf- 
fered, that  they,  which  utterly  dissented  from  all  other  men 
in  the  trade  of  their  living,  laws,  and  customs,  should  have 
any  part  with  them  in  the  honour  of  burial.     And   there- 
fore the  glory  of  God,  first  and  before  all  things  ought  to  be 
defended ;   the  infamy  which  through  this  thing  riseth  on 
them,  with  all  speed  put  away;  and  no  room  at  all  left  for 
those  persons  to   rest   in,  who,  even  in   the  same   places 
where  they  lay,  were  injurious  and  noisome  to   the  very 
elements  :  but  the  place  ought  to  be  purged,  and  all  things 
so  ordered  as  might  be  to  the  satisfying  of  the  consciences 
of  the  weak.     In  executing  whereof,  so  notable  an  exam- 
ple ought  to   be  given   to  all  men,  that   no   man  hereafter 
should  be  so  bold  to  attempt  the  like." 

The  foregoing  is  a  faithful  transcript  of  what,  from  the 
raving  absurdity  that  runs  through  it,  would  scarcely  be 


190  VISITATION    TO    CAMBRIDGE. 

credible,  even  as  a  specimen  of  the  drunken  pranks  of  that 
great  Harlot,  when  gorged  to  the  full  with  the  contents  of  her 
abominable  cup.  The  precious  document  was  drawn  up 
in  the  form  of  a  petition  of  the  university,  to  which  was 
appended  their  common  seal ;  the  commissioners  cunning- 
ly ordering  it  so,  that  it  might  appear  they  would  not 
have  gone  about  it,  unless  supplicated  thereto.  However, 
it  unhappily  came  out,  that  in  drawing  up  this  ridiculous 
petition,  the  vice-chancellor  had  only  used  instructions 
given  him  in  writing,  by  their  lordships.  This  vice-chan- 
cellor, Andrew  Perne,  was  judged  the  meetest  man  in 
Cambridge  to  have  the  ordering  of  the  weighty  affair  in 
hand,  being  considered  the  most  popish  among  them ;  and 
when  he  appeared  before  the  commissioners  with  his  sup- 
plication, its  prayer  was  not  only  granted,  instanter,  but  full 
authority  vested  in  Perne  to  exhume  the  heretics :  for  the 
examination  instituted,  and  the  sentence  pronounced  on 
Bucer,  had  also,  in  like  form,  been  extended  to  Phagius. 
It  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  the  whole  university  concurred 
in  this  disgraceful  and  inhuman  puerility,*  but  care  had  been 
taken,  after  Edward's  death,  so  to  drive  out  the  godly  and 
learned  men,  supplying  their  places  with  the  very  dregs  of 
ignorance  and  impiety,  that  the  few  who  might  be  found  to 
raise  a  voice  against  the  proceeding,  were  soon  overpower- 
ed by  the  majority,  and  an  appearance  of  unanimity  put 
upon  the  matter. 

The  affair  of  Bucer  and  Phagius  being  so  far  disposed  of, 
the  visitors  went  next  day  to  King's  College,  and  had  mass, 
with  various  ceremonies  ;  after  which  old  Brassy  repeated 
his  protestation,  to  which  Chester  made  a  reply,  wonder- 
ing what  he  meant ;  but  saying  that  they  would  bear  with 
him  and  receive  his  protestation.  After  some  more  inves- 
tigations of  their  chalices  and  other  things,  they  went  to 
dinner,  and  finished  the  day's  work  by  affixing  the  univer- 
sity seal  to  the  instrument  of  the  dead  men's  condemnation. 
Proceeding  in  regular  order,  the  following  day  they  pub- 
lished a  citation  enjoining  Bucer  and  Phagius,  on  pain  of 
contumacy,  to  appear  before  the  commissioners  in  St. 
Mary's  church  on  a  given  day  :  permission  being  also  ex- 
tended for  the  like  appearance  on  the  part  of  any  one  who 
should  choose  to  stand  forth  and  defend  their  doctrine. 
This  citation  was  affixed  to  the  market  cross,  the  church 
door,  and  to  those  of  the  schools.  A  great  number  of  these 
absurdities  were  carried  on;   evident  care,  however,  being 


VISITATION    TO    CAMBKIDGE.  191 

taken  to  provide  against  the  possible  appearance  of  some 
champion  of  God's  truth.  Had  John  Philpot  been  alive 
and  at  liberty,  they  never  would  have  dared  to  publish  such 
a  challenge:  but  they  had  put  to  death  the  pastors;  and 
knew  that  the  unlearned  flock  could  not  venture  into  their 
halls  of  disputation.  The  day  being  come,  and  neither 
Bucer  nor  Phagius  appearing,  the  delegates,  to  show  their 
extraordinary  lenity,  actually  extended  the  time  allowed  to 
six  days  later,  when,  should  they  still  remain  contuma- 
ciously absent,  judgment  must  assuredly  be  executed  upon 
them. 

This  postponement  was  to  the  twenty-sixth  of  January, 
when  the  pageant  took  place  with  all  possible  effect.  All 
the  learned  body  of  the  university,  headed  by  their  superi- 
ors and  the  mayor,  with  his  officials  and  townsmen,  met 
together  at  St.  Mary's,  where  after  a  long  delay  the  com- 
missioners came  forth,  and  mounted  a  scaffolding  raised 
above  the  rest  for  their  occupation.  Then  stood  up  Dr. 
Perne,  the  vice-chancellor,  and  with  exemplary  gravity  of 
countenance  detailed  the  whole  process  of  the  citation,  with 
the  contents  thereof.  This  being  done,  Scott,  bishop  of 
Chester,  arose,  and  after  contemplating  for  a  while  the  vast 
assembly  before  him,  delivered  an  oration,  to  the  disparage- 
ment of  the  lives,  doctrines  and  writings  of  the  defunct;  and 
greatly  to  the  enhancement  of  the  tenderness  that  char- 
acterized all  the  doings  of  holy  church,  and  of  the  bishops 
in  particular.  "  For,"  saith  he,  "  howsoever  we  of  ourselves 
are  inclined  to  mercy  in  our  hearts,  than  the  which,  we 
protest,  there  is  nothing  under  the  sun  to  us  more  dear  and 
acceptable,  yet  notwithstanding  the  very  law  riseth  tfp  to 
avengement;  so  that  the  common  salvation  of  you  all, 
which  the  law  provideth  for,  must  be  preferred  before  the 
private  charity  of  our  minds.  Neither  ought  any  such  neg- 
ligence to  overtake  us  for  our  parts,  that  we,  being  scarce 
yet  escaped  out  of  the  shipwreck  of  our  former  calamity, 
should  now  suffer  this  inexpiable  mischief  to  disquiet  any 
longer  the  consciences  of  the  weak."  Again  quoth  the 
tender-hearted  prelate,  "  If  we  had  desired  revengement, 
we  might  have  showed  cruelty  upon  them  that  are  alive: 
of  the  which,  alas,  the  more  pity!  there  are  too  many  that 
embrace  this  doctrine.  If  we  thirsted  for  blood,  it  was  not 
so  to  be  sought  in  withered  carcases  and  dry  bones."  He 
ended  a  long  speech  in  these  impious  and  impudent  words: 
"  But  if  God,  as  he  is  slow  to  wrath  and  vengeance,  will 


192  VISITATION    TO    CAMBRIDGE. 

wink  at  it  for  a  time,  yet  notwithstanding  if  we,  upon  whom 
the  charge  of  the  Lord's  flock  leaneth,  should  permit  so 
execrable  crimes  to  escape  unpunished,  we  should  not  live  in 
quiet  one  hour."  He  then  recited  the  sentence  in  barbarous 
Latin ;  and  ordered  the  bodies  to  be  digged  out  of  their 
graves,  to  be  degraded  from  holy  orders,  and  delivered  to 
the  secular  power.  It  was  not  of  course  lawful  for  such 
innocent  persons  as  they  were,  abhorring  bloodshed  and 
detesting  the  desire  of  murder,  to  do  violence  to  any  man. 
Then  Perne  preached  a  sermon  against  Bucer,  railing  ex- 
ceedingly at  him:  with  what  degree  of  sincerity  may  be 
understood  from  the  fact  that  this  same  Perne,  either  just 
before  or  immediately  after  his  sermon,  was  seen  in  his 
own  house  to  strike  himself  on  the  breast,  weeping,  and 
wishing  with  all  his  heart  that  God  would  grant  that  his 
soul  might  even  then  depart,  and  remain  with  Bucer's; 
adding  that  he  very  well  knew  his  life  to  have  been  such 
that  if  any  man's  soul  were  worthy  of  heaven,  Bucer's  es- 
pecially was  so.  Yet,  in  his  open  discourse  he  did  not 
scruple  to  vilify  this  good  man  most  foully,  pretending  to 
quote  Bucer's  confessions  to  him,  in  private  conference,  in 
proof  thereof. 

The  next  step  taken  was  to  send  an  express  to  the  car- 
dinal in  London,  requesting  the  issue  of  a  writ,  authorizing 
the  mayor  of  Cambridge  to  burn  those  condemned  heretics. 
Meanwhile,  by  way  of  an  interlude,  Dr.  W'atson  preached 
so  ridiculous  a  sermon,  as  to  excite  the  laughter  of  his  audi- 
ence: his  object  being  to  show  in  what  order  of  procession 
Joseph  and  Mary,  with  wax  candles  in  their  hands,  brought 
the  Utile  babe  to  the  temple.  The  messenger  returned  from 
town  with  the  writ;  and  the  sixth  of  February  was  ap- 
pointed for  the  solemn  deed,  in  preparations  whereto  nearly 
a  month  had  been  devoted.  Perne,  the  vice-chancellor, 
was  chosen,  as  has  been  said,  to  superintend  the  business: 
he  went  in  due  state  to  St.  Michael's  church,  and  having 
sworn  three  of  the  parishioners  to  dig  up  Phagius'  bones, 
and  bring  them  to  the  place  of  execution,  while  a  like  en- 
gagement was  entered  into  respecting  Bucer  at  St.  Mary's, 
he  sent  the  mayor  to  burn  them  :  for  no  stain  of  blood  must 
touch  their  ecclesiastical  fingers.  Bucer's  coffin  was  found 
in  sufficient  repair  to  admit  of  his  being  removed  in  it;  Pha- 
gius required  a  new  one;  which  being  provided,  the  two 
criminals  were  borne  to  the  market-place,  closely  guarded 
by  a  phalanx  of  armed  men,  who,  with  glittering  weapons, 


VISITATION    TO    CAMBRIDGE.  193 

surrounded  the  coffins,  bound  as  they  were  with  ropes,  and 
laid  on  the  shoulders  of  men.  It  was  market  day;  and  a 
multitude  of  simple  country  people  had  assembled  in  the 
town  ;  who,  seeing  this  warlike  array,  guarding  two  crimi- 
nals  to  execution,  and  learning  that  the  parlies  had  already 
been  dead  some  years,  made  themselves  not  a  little  merry 
on  the  occasion.  Some,  indeed,  expressed  the  utmost  ab- 
horrence and  detestation  of  such  extreme  and  disgusting 
cruelty  towards  the  mouldering  remains  of  their  fellow- 
creatures,  but  the  rest  laughed  openly,  asking  what  need 
there  was  for  weapon  or  chain  :  "  were  they  afraid  the 
dead  bodies  would  assault  them,  or  that  they  could  not 
be  burnt  loose  without  peril  ?  Surely  they  would  not  run 
away." 

So,  followed  by  the  people,  they  came  to  the  great  post 
that  was  fixed  in  the  middle  of  the  market-place,  with  a  pile 
of  wood  about  it.  The  coffins  were  then  set  on  end,  bound 
with  a  long  chain  to  the  stake,  as  though  they  had  been 
alive;  and  as  soon  as  fire  was  applied,  great  numbers  of 
their  own,  with  other  books  of  the  like  sort,  which  had  been 
condemned  to  the  same  fate,  were  thrown  into  the  flames, 
amid  the  scoffs  and  indignant  remarks  of  the  disgusted 
populace.  While  the  bodies  were  thus  roasting,  Watson, 
in  St.  Mary's  church,  preached  a  sermon  against  Bucer, 
railing  at  him  for  holding  those  very  doctrines  to  which  he, 
Chester,  and  others  there  present,  had,  in  king  Edward's 
days,  unreservedly  subscribed. 

There  remained  now  but  one  act  of  this  disgraceful  farce 
to  be  performed :  this  was  the  purification  and  reconcilia- 
tion to  holy  church  of  the  two  desecrated  temples,  St.  Ma- 
ry's and  St.  Michael's,  where  the  heretical  bodies  had  been 
interred.  So  on  the  following  day  the  commissioners  took 
their  wafer-god,  who  had  remained  in  his  box  under  their 
especial  care  in  Trinity  college  all  this  while,  and  the  bishop 
of  Chester,  wrapping  the  idol  in  a  towel  consecrated  by  the 
pope  himself,  which  Ormanet  had  lately  presented  to  the 
university,  lodged  it  in  his  bosom;  and  in  procession  more 
showy,  and  no  less  ridiculous  than  that  of  the  preceding 
day,  made  a  tour  of  all  the  streets  in  Cambridge,  until  they 
reached  the  church.  The  order  of  procession  was  this: 
first  went  the  masters  regent,  loudly  singing  a  hymn;  then 
the  bishop  of  Chester  with  his  precious  charge;  after  him 
Ormanet  and  the  other  commissioners;  next  came  the 
heads  of  colleges,  each  bearing  g  long  lighted  taper  in  his 

MARTYROLOGY. VOL.  II.  17 


194  VISITATION    TO    OXFORD. 

hands ;  a  liltle  space  behind,  was  marshalled  the  whole 
body  of  the  university;  the  rear  being  brought  up  by  the 
mayor  and  townsmen.  Beadles  preceded  the  party,  crying 
out  to  the  people  to  bow  humbly  before  the  host;  threaten- 
ing any  who  should  refuse  so  to  do,  with  a  lodging  in  the 
tolbooth.  The  little  idol  being  replaced  over  the  altar,  and, 
as  they  hoped,  appeased  by  the  sacrifice  of  the  heretical  re- 
mains that  had  defiled  the  sanctuary,  Chester  made  a  long 
prayer;  and  so  the  matter  ended. 

However,  the  reformation  of  the  university  was  not  for- 
gotten :  for  before  their  departure  the  cardinal's  deputies 
arranged  with  scrupulous  exactness  all  things  pertaining  to 
their  spiritual  duties.  It  was  prescribed  at  how  many 
masses  each  man  should  daily  attend;  how  many  paters 
and  aves  every  one  should  say  on  entering  the  church,  and 
aiter  what  sort  he  should,  at  such  entrance,  bow  to  the  altar, 
how  to  the  master  of  the  house,  what  he  should  do  while 
there,  how  long  he  should  stop;  how  many,  and  what 
prayers  he  should  say;  what,  and  how  he  should  sing; 
what  meditations  should  be  used  while  the  priest  was  se- 
cretly mumbling  his  memento;  at  what  part  of  the  mass  a 
man  should  stand,  when  he  should  sit  down ;  when  he  should 
curtsey,  whether  exclusively,  inclusively,  or  how:  with 
such  other  minute  particulars  as  defy  enumeration.  Not  to 
be  behindhand  in  showing  such  favours  as  they  could,  the 
university  conferred  its  honorary  degrees  with  a  prodigal 
hand  upon  the  actors  in  this  extraordinary  drama ;  and  so 
they  parted,  mutually  edified  and  benefited  by  four  weeks' 
intercourse. 

No  attempt  has  been  made  to  throw  a  veil  of  serious- 
ness over  the  broad  farce  of  these  doings.  Shocking  as  they 
are,  when  viewed  in  the  light  of  their  assumed  Christianity, 
and  loathsome  in  the  perpetration  of  such  indecent  outrages 
upon  the  dead  bodies  of  God's  saints,  still  they  afford  a  con- 
trast to  the  sanguinary  scenes  of  the  preceding  and  follow- 
ing pages,  whereon  the  harassed  mind  can  rest,  and  at 
which  reason  cannot  but  smile. 

Oxford  enjoyed  a  visitation  also,  at  the  cardinal's  com- 
mand :  and  having  there  no  person  of  greater  importance 
to  exhume,  the  wretched  commissioners  violated  the  grave 
where  an  honest  and  worthy  woman  was  laid,  the  wife  of 
that  eminent  servant  of  God,  Peter  Martyr,  who  in  blessed 
king  Edward's  days  had  so  effectually  wrought  in  the  work 
of  national  reformation.  <They  dug  up  her  bones,  and  with 


TEN    MARTYRS.  195 

every  species  of  contumely  thrust  them  into  a  dunghill. 
This  act  operated  strongly  against  the  credit  of  the  apostate 
church;  for  the  gentlewoman  was  a  stranger,  a  foreigner, 
not  only  inoffensive  to  all,  but  so  remarkable  for  her  ten- 
derness and  charity  towards  the  poor,  that  her  death  had 
been  a  cause  of  grievous  mourning  to  all  the  needy  people 
around;  and  her  fame  was  that  of  a  Dorcas.  Yet  these 
popish  ecclesiastics  considered  it  an  affair  worthy  of  their 
gravest  deliberation  and  most  diligent  zeal,  lo  rake  her  in- 
nocent ashes  out  of  the  ground,  and  re-inter  them  in  a  heap 
of  rubbish  and  defilement !  Verily,  by  their  fruits  ye  shall 
know  these  teachers. 

But  while  the  comparatively  harmless  fooleries  of  the 
cardinal's  visitors  were  being  enacted  at  the  universities, 
Harpsfield  and  his  fellow-helpers  took  care  that  the  fires 
of  martyrdom  should  not  too  long  smoulder  beneath  the 
ashes.  They  were  kindled  into  violence  to  consume,  in  the 
middle  of  that  month  of  January,  1557,  the  martyrs  re- 
maining in  Canterbury  castle  after  the  death,  by  famine,  of 
those  five  already  mentioned.  Ten  survived;  and  of  these, 
six,  that  is  to  say,  S.  Kempe,  W.  Waterer,  W.  Prout- 
iNG,  VV.  LowicK,  T.  Hudson,  and  W.  Hay,  were  burnt 
together  at  Canterbury,  on  the  fifteenth  of  January :  N. 
Final,  and  M.  Bradhridge,  at  Ashford,  on  the  sixteenth, 
and  T.  Stevens,  with  J.  Philpot,  about  the  same  time,  at 
Wye.  The  articles  objected  against  these  men  were  in- 
creased to  the  number  of  twenty-two  ;  containing  various 
new  matters,  deemed  important  to  the  maintenance  of  the 
Romish  see.  Their  answers  agreed  in  effect,  whatever 
slight  difference  might  appear  in  the  wording,  granting  the 
church  of  Christ,  denying  the  church  of  Rome,  refusing  the 
mass,  and  Latin  services,  rejecting  the  superfluous  five  sa- 
craments, and  disclaiming  the  doctrines  of  justification  by 
works,  the  invocation  of  saints,  and  the  like.  For  this 
confession  they  were  content  to  yield  their  lives,  which  the 
bloody  persecutors  were  perfectly  willing  to  take  ;  and  thus 
they  entered  into  the  joy  of  the  Lord. 

The  month  of  February  was  ushered  in  by  a  proclama- 
tion or  commission  given  forth  by  Mary  and  her  consort, 
the  purport  of  which  may  show  how  necessary  it  is  to 
bear  in  mind  the  apostolic  injunction,  "  to  pray  for  kings 
and  all  that  are  in  authority;  that  we  may  lead  a  quiet  and 
peaceable  life  in  all  godliness  and  honesty."  This  dreadful 
instrument  gave,  to  use  the  words  employed  in  it,  full  power 


196  PROCLAMATION. 

and  authority  unto  any  three  of  the  commissioners,  "  to  in- 
quire, as  well  by  the  oaths  of  twelve  good  and  lawful  men, 
as  by  witnesses,  and  all  other  means  and  politic  ways  you 
can  devise,  of  all  and  singular  heretical  opinions,  Lollardies, 
heretical  and  seditious  books,  concealments,  contempts, 
cons[)iracies;  and  all  false  rumours  or  tales,  seditious  and 
slanderous  words  or  sayings,  raised,  published,  bruited,  in- 
vented, or  set  forth  against  us,  or  either  of  us,"  and  so  on: 
*'  giving  unto  you,  and  three  of  you,  full  power  and  autho- 
rity, by  virtue  hereof,  to  search  out  and  take  into  your 
hands  and  possessions,  all  manner  of  heretical  and  sedi- 
tious books,  letters  and  writings,  wheresoever  they  or  "any 
of  them  shall  be  found,  as  well  in  printers'  houses  and  shops 
as  elsewhere  ;  willing  you,  and  every  one  of  you,  to  search 
for  the  same  in  all  places,  according  to  your  discretions." 
Then  follows  some  direction  concerning  a  vigilant  guardian- 
ship of  the  ecclesiastical  possessions;  and  it  goes  on: 
"Also,  to  search  out  all  such  persons  as  obstinately  do  re- 
fuse to  receive  the  blessed  sacrament  of  the  altar,  to  hear 
mass,  or  to  come  to  their  parish  churches,  or  other  conve- 
nient places  appointed  for  divine  service ;  and  all  such  as 
refuse  to  go  on  procession,  to  take  holy  bread  or  holy  wa- 
ter, or  otherwise  misuse  themselves,  in  any  church  or  other 
hallowed  place,  or  wheresoever  any  of  the  same  offences 
have  been,  or  hereafter  shall  be  committed,  within  this  our 
said  realm."  This  sweeping  commission,  having  thus  fully 
established  the  utmost  latitude  of  inquisitorial  search,  con- 
cludes by  placing  the  liberties  and  lives  of  all  who  shall 
fall  under  suspicion,  at  the  entire  disposal  of  the  commis- 
sioners. 

The  first  fruits  of  this  terrible  proclamation  were  mani- 
fested in  the  diocese  of  Canterbury  and  the  town  of  Colches- 
ter. In  the  latter  place  twenty-three  innocent  persons  were 
apprehended  at  once:  one  escaped;  and  the  remaining 
twenty-two,  fourteen  men  and  eight  women,  were  together 
driven  up  to  London,  like  a  flock  of  lambs  to  the  slaughter- 
house, with  two  or  three  leaders  at  most,  among  them;  all 
ready  to  give  their  bodies  to  the  tormentors  for  the  gospel's 
sake.  They  were  fastened  in  semblance  only;  for  the  cord 
passed  about  their  arms  was  held  by  themselves,  and  escape 
would  have  been  perfectly  easy.  On  approaching  London, 
the  keepers  called  them  together  and  pinioned  them ;  and 
thus  they  entered  the  great  city.  Bonner  endeavoured  to 
get  them  privily  to  his  house;  but,  as  he  complained  to  car- 


LOSEBY— RAMSAY THURTELt,  ETC.  197 

dinal  Pole,  they  insisted  on  going  publicly  through  Cheap- 
side,  all  the  way  exhorting  the  people,  and  received  great 
comfort  from  them.  Bonner  greatly  desired  their  destruc- 
tion; but  Pole,  who  was  certainly  of  a  very  different  dis- 
position from  his  more  sanguinary  agents,  and  who  had 
been  a  favourer  of  protestantism  until  worldly  ambition  led 
him  to  enact  the  part  of  a  zealous  Romanist,  interfered  in 
their  behalf.  In  so  doing  he  was  not  much  opposed  by  the 
bishops,  who  seemed  to  consider  their  number  rather  too 
large  to  be  summarily  dealt  with:  and  they  were,  at  last, 
permitted  to  draw  up  such  submission  as  they  themselves 
deemed  right,  which  was,  in  fact,  no  renunciation  of  their 
doctrine,  and  on  the  merit  of  this  they  were  set  at  liberty. 
But  the  lynx  eye  of  persecution  was  upon  them;  and  many 
of  the  number  were  afterwards  severally  apprehended  again, 
and  put  to  death,  as  occasion  served,  and  as  will  hereafter 
appear. 

On  the  twelfth  of  April,  five  martyrs  were  burned  to- 
gether in  Smithfield;  J.  Loseby,  H.  Ramsay,  T.  Thur- 
TELL,  Margaret  Hyde,  and  Agnes  Stanley.  They  were 
apprehended  by  lord  Rich  and  others,  and  sent  to  Bonner, 
whose  chancellor,  Darbishire,  examined  them  upon  the 
usual  articles ;  their  answers  to  which  proved  them  to  be 
simple  unlearned  people ;  and  thus  they  were  exposed  to 
some  of  the  deep  snares  of  their  examiners,  who  by  a  pe- 
culiar craftiness  of  sophistry  drew  from  them  a  confession 
that  "  they  had  separated  themselves  from  the  true  faith." 
The  manner  of  doing  it  was  this :  the  first  article  proposes 
the  belief  of  one,  true,  catholic  church  of  Christ,  to  which 
they  all,  of  course,  readily  assented,  admitting  that  into 
such  church  they  had  been  baptized  ;  that  is,  into  the  nam» 
of  the  Father,  the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost.  Grounding 
their  assumption  of  being  the  catholic  church  on  the  ex- 
ternal confession  of  the  Trinity,  these  artful  doctors  con- 
trived to  make  it  appear  that  all  their  idolatrous  and  vain 
superstitions  were  to  be  adduced  from  that  fundamental 
point  of  faith  ;  and  so  by  the  mere  abuse  of  words,  drew  the 
simple  people  to  admit  what  they  had  not  the  least  intention 
of  granting, — that  they  had  separated  themselves  from  the 
_  faith  into  which  they  were  baptized;  whereas  they  only 
meant  to  say  that  though  the  Romish  church  retained  the 
confession  of  the  Trinity,  into  which  they  were  also  bap- 
tized, they  had  separated  from  that  church  on  account  of 
the  manifold  abominations  whereby  the  light  that  was  in 
17* 


198  LOSEBY RAMSAY THURTELL,  ETC. 

her  had  been  turned  into  black  darkness.  In  all  their  an- 
swers they  constantly  affirmed  the  mass  to  be  most  wicked 
blasphemy  against  Christ  Jesus,  contrary  to  the  truth  of 
the  gospel,  and  tiierefore  to  be  utterly  refused  and  rejected: 
yet,  since  they  ignorantly  granted  that  "  when  they  came 
to  years  of  discretion,  and  understood  the  light  of  the  gos- 
pel, they  did  separate  themselves  from  the  faith  of  the 
church,"  it  was  laid  hold  on  as  an  admission  of  error,  if 
not  as  a  recantation,  by  the  chancellor,  who  for  that  time 
dismissed  them. 

But  they  had  another  to  deal  with,  whose  delight  in  hu- 
man blood  was  too  great  to  admit  of  his  conniving  at  such 
an  escape.  Bonner  took  the  matter  into  his  own  hands, 
and  added  thirteen  new  articles  to  those  already  in  use, 
which  enabled  these  dear  servants  of  God  to  give  a  right 
exhibition  of  their  scriptural  belief,  and  so  secured  to  them 
the  martyr's  crown,  which  they  had  no  desire  or  intention 
of  losing,  howsoever  their  words  had  been  wrested  by  Dar- 
bishire  and  others.  Among  the  new  articles  of  Bonner 
were  these :  "  Thou  has  thought,  believed,  and  spoken, 
within  some  part  of  the  city  and  diocese  of  London,  that 
the  faith,  religion,  and  ecclesiastical  service  here  observed, 
and  kept,  as  it  is  in  the  realm  of  England,  is  not  a  true  and 
a  laudable  faith,  religion,  and  service,  especially  concerning 
the  mass,  and  the  seven  sacraments ;  nor  is  agreeable  to 
God's  word  and  testament;  and  that  thou  canst  not  find  in 
thy  heart,  without  murmuring,  grudging  or  scruple,  to  re- 
ceive and  use  it,  and  to  conform  thyself  unto  it,  as  other 
subjects  of  this  realm  customably  have  done  and  do.  Thou 
hast  thought,  &c.  that  the  English  service  set  forth  in  the 
time  of  king  Edward  the  sixth,  here  in  this  realm  of  Eng- 
land, was  and  is  good  and  godly,  and  catholic  in  all  points; 
and  that  it  alone  ought,  here  in  this  realm,  to  be  received, 
used  and  practised,  and  none  other.  Thou  has  thought, 
&c.  that  thou  art  not  bound  to  come  to  procession  to  the 
church  upon  days  and  times  appointed,  and  to  go  in  the 
same  with  others  of  the  parish,  singing  or  saying  then  the 
accustomed  prayers  used  in  the  church,  nor  to  bear  a  ta- 
per or  candle  on  candlemas-day,  nor  the  ashes  upon  Ash- 
vVednesday,  nor  bear  palms  upon  Palm-Sunday,  nor  to 
creep  to  the  cross*  upon  days  accustomed,  nor  to   receive 

*  This  is  one  of  the  grossly  idolatrous  practices  of  the  Romish 
church,  in  which  the  people  approach  the  crucifix  creeping  and 
crawling  like  reptiles,  in  the  lowest  attitude  of  prostration,  to  kiss 


LOSEBY RAMSAY THURTELL,    &C.  199 

and  kiss  the  pix  at  mass-time,  nor  to  receive  holy  water  or 
holy  bread,  nor  to  accept  and  allow  the  ceremonies  and 
usages  of  the  church,  after  the  manner  and  fashion  as  they 
are  used  in  this  realm.  Thou  hast  thought,  &c.  that  in 
matters  of  religion  and  faith  thou  must  follow  and  believe 
thine  own  conscience  only,  and  not  give  credit  to  the  deter- 
mination and  common  order  of  the  catholic  church,  and  the 
see  of  Rome,  nor  to  any  member  thereof.  Thou  hast 
thought,  &c.  that  all  such  as  in  the  time  of  king  Henry 
VIII,  or  in  the  time  of  queen  Mary  in  England,  have  been 
burned  as  heretics,  were  no  heretics  at  all,  but  faithful  and 
good  Christian  people;  especially  Barnes,  Ganet,  Jerome, 
Frith,  Rogers,  Hooper,  Card  maker,  Latimer,  Taylor,  Brad- 
ford, Philpot,  Cranmer,  Ridley,  and  such  like;  and  that  thou 
didst  and  dost  allow,  like  and  approve  all  their  opinions,  and 
dost  mislike  their  condemnations  and  burnings."  These  were 
a  part  of  Bonner's  additional  articles ;  in  some  of  which  they 
werealsochargedwith  holding  the  doctrineof  fatal  necessity, 
that  infant  baptism  is  unscriptural,  that  the  soul  sleeps  till 
the  day  of  judgment,  that  a  judicial  oath  is  unlawful,  and 
fasting  or  abstinence  not  allowable  by  God's  word.  These 
calumnious  accusations  they  utterly  denied;  but  to  those 
first  specified  they  fully  assented:  allowing  that  they  were 
bound  to  believe  the  true  catholic  church,  so  far  as  it  in- 
structed them  according  to  God's  holy  word;  but  not  to 
follow  the  determinations  of  the  erroneous  and  Babylonical 
church  of  Rome.  They  denied  being  of  the  absurd  opin- 
ion of  fatalism;  but  granted  that  man  of  himself,  without 
the  help  and  assistance  of  God's  Holy  Spirit,  hath  no  power 
to  do  any  good  thing  acceptable  in  God's  sight.  True  fast- 
ing and  prayer,  they  said,  used  according  to  God's  word, 
are  allowable  and  available  in  his  sight;  and  that  by  the 
same  word  every  faithfljl  man  may  eat  all  meats  at  all 
times,  with  thanksgiving  to  God  for  the  same. 

On  the  first  day  of  April  the  bishop  had  them  again  be- 
fore him,  to  try  if  they  would  stand  to  these  answers;  and 
finding  them  steadfast,  in  refusing  to  recant,  he  remanded 
them  for  two  days ;  then  in  open  consistory,  he  produced 
them,  demanding  of  each  separately,  what  he  or  she  could 

the  foot  of  the  crucifix,  and  to  address  the  senseless  block  in  lan- 
guage of  unequivocal  adoration,  calling  upon  it  even  by  the  name  of 
"  wood,"  to  pardon  their  sins  and  to  save  their  souls.  See  the  Romish 
ritual. 


200  LOSEBY RAMSAY THURTELL,    ETC. 

say,  why  he  should  not  pronounce  the  sentence  of  condem- 
nation. Thomas  Loseby  first  answered,  "  God  give  me 
grace  and  strength  to  stand  against  you  and  your  sentence: 
and  also  against  your  law,  which  is  a  devouring  law:  for  it 
devoureth  the  flock  of  Christ.  And  T  perceive  there  is  no 
way  with  me  but  death,  except  I  would  consent  to  your  de- 
vouring law,  and  believe  in  that  idol,  the  mass."  Thomas 
Thurtell  said,  "  My  lord,  I  say  thus  ;  if  you  make  me  an 
heretic,  then  you  make  Christ  and  all  the  apostles  here- 
tics: for  1  am  in  the  true  faith  and  right  belief,  and  I  will 
stand  in  it ;  for  I  know  full  well  I  shall  have  eternal  life 
therefore."  Henry  Ramsay's  reply  was,  "  My  lord,  will 
you  have  me  to  go  from  the  truth  that  I  am  in?  I  say  unto 
you,  that  my  opinions  be  the  very  truth,  which  I  will  stand 
unto,  and  not  go  from  them:  and  I  say  unto  you  farther, 
that  there  are  two  churches  upon  the  earth,  and  we  be  of 
the  true  church,  and  ye  be  not."  Then  spoke  Margaret 
Hyde,  "  My  lord,  you  have  no  cause  to  give  sentence 
against  me ;  for  I  am  of  the  true  faith  and  opinion,  and 
will  never  forsake  it;  and  I  do  wish  that  I  were  more  strong 
in  it  than  I  am."  Lastly,  Agnes  Stanley  witnessed  this 
good  confession,  saying,  "  I  would  rather  every  hair  of 
my  head  were  burned,  if  it  were  never  so  much  worth,  than 
that  I  will  forsake  my  faith  and  opinion,  which  is  the  true 
faith." 

They  were  left  until  the  afternoon,  when  Bonner  first 
called  for  Loseby,  and,  after  the  usual  form,  commanded 
the  articles  with  his  answers  to  be  read,  previous  to  passing 
sentence.  When,  in  the  reading,  mention  was  made  of  the 
sacrament  of  the  altar,  the  bishop  and  his  colleagues  put 
off"  their  caps ;  whereupon  the  faithful  Christian  poor  man, 
said,  "My  lord,  seeing  you  put  off  your  cap,  I  will  put  on 
my  cap,"  which  he  did.  Bonner  entering  upon  the  usual 
persuasions  to  recant,  which  were  a  part  of  the  formality 
of  mock  judgment,  Loseby  answered  him,  "  My  lord,  I 
trust  I  have  the  Spirit  of  truth,  which  you  detest  and  abhor; 
for  the  wisdom  of  God  is  foolishness  unto  men."  On  this 
the  bishop  condemned  and  delivered  him  to  the  sheriff ; 
calling  next  for  Margaret  Hyde,  who  said,  in  reply  to  his 
hacknied  phrases  of  exhortation,  "•  I  will  not  depart  from 
my  sayings  till  I  be  burned:  and,  my  lord,  I  would  see 
you  instruct  me  with  some  part  of  God's  word,  and  not  to 
give  me  instructions  of  the  holy  bread  and  holy  water,  for 


MORANT — GRATWICK KING.  201 

it  is  no  part  of  the  scripture."  But  Bonner,  being  unable  to 
do  this,  used  his  best  argument  by  forthwith  condemning 
her  to  the  flames. 

Agnes  Stanley  next  came,  who  answered  him,  "  My  lord, 
where  you  say  I  am  a  heretic,  I  am  none ;  neither  yet  will 
I  believe  you;  nor  any  man  that  is  wise  will  believe  as  you 
do.  And  as  for  those  that  ye  say  be  burnt  for  heresy,  I 
believe  they  are  true  martyrs  before  God :  therefore  I  will 
not  go  from  my  opinion  and  faith  as  long  as  I  live."  For 
this  she  received  the  usual  reward,  of  being  sentenced 
to  die. 

Thurtell's  final  answer  was,  "  My  lord,  I  will  not  hold 
wit  1\  your  idolatrous  ways,  as  you  do:  for  I  say  the  mass 
is  idolatry,  and  will  stick  to  my  faith  and  belief  so  long  as 
the  breath  is  in  my  body."  He  was  condemned  as  a  he- 
retic. Ramsay,  being  the  last,  shortly  said,  "  I  will  not  go 
from  my  religion  and  belief  as  long  as  I  live ;  and,  my  lord, 
your  doctrine  is  naught:  for  it  is  not  agreeable  to  God's 
word."  His  sentence  being  given,  this  noble  little  company 
of  martyrs  were  led  away  by  the  sheriffs,  who,  on  the 
twelfth  of  the  month,  brought  them  to  Smithfield,  where  they 
joyfully  yielded  up  their  lives  :  being  kept  by  the  power  of 
God,  through  faith  unto  salvation ;  and  receiving  the  end 
of  that  faith,  even  the  salvation  of  their  souls. 


CHAPTER  X. 

GRATWICK — ALLEN AND    OTHER    MARTYRS. 

The  next  burning  took  place  in  St.  George's  fields,  South- 
wark;  and  the  sufferers  were,  W.  Morant,  S.  Gratwick, 
and  one  named  King.  The  case  of  Gratwick  is  extraor- 
dinary, if  any  thing  perpetrated  by  the  Romish  bishops 
could  be  considered  so ;  and  the  statement  written  by  him- 
self gives  evidence  of  the  most  hardened,  barefaced  dis- 
regard even  of  their  own  partial  and  unjust  laws :  for  it 
appears  that,  first,  he  was  condemned  by  the  bishops  of 
Winchester  and  Rochester,  who  were  not  his  ordinaries: 
secondly,  on  appealing  from  their  incompetent  judgment, 
his  appeal  was  not  admitted ;  thirdly,  when  they  had  no 


202  GRATWICK. 

other  screen  for  their  scandalous  proceeding,  they  suborned 
a  priest  to  personate  the  bishop  of  Chichester,  Gratwick's 
proper  ordinary;  fourthly,  they  would  neither  yield  to  the 
force  of  his  arguments,  though  unable  to  answer  them,  nor 
even  object  the  true  articles  against  him;  but  forged  some 
that  were  false  and  had  made  no  part  of  his  examination ; 
and  sixthly,  with  no  other  ground  against  him  than  speak- 
ing the  words,  "  That  which  I  said,  I  have  said,"  they  put 
him  to  death.  And  this,  says  Fox,  was  the  dealing  of 
these  men,  which  needs  will  be  reputed  for  catholic  fathers 
of  the  spirituality,  successors  of  the  apostles,  disciples  of 
Christ,  pillars  of  the  holy  church,  and  leaders  of  the  people; 
— of  whose  doings  and  proceedings,  how  agreeable , they 
are  to  the  example  of  Christ  and  his  apostles,  I  leave  to 
discuss ;  referring  the  judgment  hereafter  to  them  which 
know  the  institution  of  Christ's  religion  and  doctrine. 

It  does  not  appear  what  was  Gratwick's  calling;  but  his 
recital  shows  great  ability.  It  seems  that  he  had  been  for 
some  time  the  object  of  persecution ;  for  coming  before 
White,  bishop  of  Winchester,  at  St.  George's  church,  South- 
wark,  the  bishop  asked  him  if  he  was  contented  to  revoke 
the  heresies  which  he  had  oftentimes  maintained  and  de- 
fended before  him ;  reproaching  him  with  having  repeated 
his  erroneous  doctrines  publicly  on  the  Sunday  before  ;  and 
threatening  to  excommunicate  him  if  he  did  not  recant. 
Then  he  read  some  articles,  demanding  Gratwick's  answer, 
who  told  him  that  those  articles  were  not  his,  but  of  the 
bishop's  devising,  to  take  his  life.  He  appealed  to  his 
proper  ordinary,  declaring  he  had  nothing  to  do  with  the 
diocese  of  Winchester,  having  been  apprehended  by  his  own 
bishop,  and  sent  a  prisoner  into  that  diocese.  While  he  was 
speaking  the  bishop  of  Rochester  came  in,  and  after  him 
Harpsfield,  archdeacon  of  Canterbury,  both  of  whom  came 
by  a  preconcerted  scheme,  and  were  received  with  great 
joy  by  White,  who  said,  "  I  am  very  glad  of  your  coming: 
for  here  I  have  one  before  me,  who  hath  appealed  unto  you, 
being  his  ordinary."  Harpsfield  replied  that  he  knew  the 
man  very  well ;  having  had  him  several  times  before  him; 
but  Gratwick  said,  "  My  lord,  I  am  not  of  his  diocese,  not 
by  five  miles ;  for  his  diocese  reacheth,  on  that  part,  but  to 
the  cliffs  of  Lewes,  and  I  am  of  Brighthelmstone,  five  miles 
beyond,  in  the  diocese  of  the  bishop  of  Chichester."  On 
this  the  three  bishops  consulted  together,  and  laughed:  they 
then  said,  his  ordinary  would  be  there  by  and  by:  but  when 


GRATWICK,  203 

he  saw  them  sending  out  on  some  message,  and  laughing 
acrain,  the  martyr  addressed  them,  "  Why  do  you  laugh  1 
Are  ye  confederate  together  for  my  blood,  and  therein  tri- 
umph?    You  have  more  cause  to  look  weightily  upon  the 
matter,  for  I  stand  here  before  you  upon  life  and  death.  But 
you  declare  yourselves  what  you  are :  for  you  are  lapped 
in  lamb's  apparel,  but  I  would  to  God  ye  had  coats  accord- 
ing to  your  assembly  here,  which  is  scarlet  gowns ;  for  I 
do  here  perceive  you  are  bent  to  have  my  blood."     Just 
then  came  hurrying  in  a  fellow  habited  as  a  bishop ;  Win- 
chester, taking  care  to  inquire  of  a  servant  who  was  com- 
ing, and  receiving  for  answer,  "  My  lord  of  Chichester,"  wel- 
comed him  with  great  respect,  saying  to  the  prisoner,  "  Lo, 
here  is  your  ordinary:  what  have  you  to  say  unto  him?" 
Gratwick,  who  at  once  detected  the  cheat,  answered,  "  1 
have  nothing  to  say  unto  him.     If  he  have  nothing  to  say 
unto  me,  I  pray  you  let  me  depart."     Then  the  counter- 
feit bishop  said,  "  Here  you  stand  before  my  lords  and  me, 
in  trial  ot  your  faith;  and  if  you  bring  the  truth,  we  shall 
by  compulsion  give  place  unto  you,  as  it  is  to  be  proved  by 
the  word,  and  your  doctrine  to  be  heard  and  embraced  for 
a  truth."     Gratwick  asked  if  the  argument  was  to  be  de- 
cided by  authority,  or  by  the  judgment  of  the  Spirit  of 
God  in  his  members :  the  mock  bishop  replied.  By  both. 
Then,  said  Gratwick,  "  Now  will  I  turn  your  own  argu- 
ment against  you;  for  Christ  came  before  the  high  priests, 
scribes,  and  pharisees,  bringing  the  truth  with  him,  being 
the  very  truth  himself,  which  truth  cannot  lie,  yet  both  he 
and  his  truth  were  condemned,  and  took  no  place  with 
them:  and  also  the  apostles,  and  all  the  martyrs  that  died 
since  Christ."    He  seems  to  have  adduced  this  to  show  the 
inefficiency  of  any  body  of  men  to  decide  on  points  of  doc- 
trine otherwise  than  by  the  written  word  :  and  repeated  his 
challenge  to  answer  it  if  they  could.     However  the  coun- 
terfeit got  into  a  rage,  and  instead  of  replying,  desired  the 
bishop  of  Winchester  to  object  some  articles  against  him, 
to  prevent  his  getting  out  of  their  hands.     He  began  to 
read  again  the  forged  articles,  which  Gratwick  once  more 
refused  to  acknowledge ;   and  the  sham  Chichester  then 
directed  to  examine  him  on  the  sacrament  of  the  altar,  to 
which  he  answered,  "  My  lord,  I  do  believe  that  in  the  sa- 
crament of  the  supper  of  the  Lord,  truly  ministered  in  both 
kinds,  according  to  the  institution  of  Christ,  unto  the  wor- 
thy receiver,  he  eateth  mystically  by  faith  the  body  and 


204  GRATWICK. 

blood  of  Christ."  He  asked  the  counterfeit  if  this  were  not 
the  truth,  who  answered,  "Yea;"  but  Winchester  being 
more  subtle,  said  that  he  separated  the  sacrament  of  the 
altar  from  the  supper  of  the  Lord,  not  allowing  the  former 
to  be  the  true  sacrament :  condemning  also  the  ministra- 
tion in  one  kind,  and  allowing  that  the  unworthy  receiver 
did  not  eat  and  drink  the  body  and  blood  of  Christ.  Grat- 
wick  objected  to  the  forced  construction  always  put  on  his 
words ;  but  demanded  a  proof  that  their's  was  the  true  sa- 
crament, or  their  church  the  true  church:  in  which  case 
he  would  go  with  them.  But  it  seems  that,  on  a  former 
occasion,  of  which  there  is  no  account,  Winchester  had 
been  shamed  in  the  argument,  which  made  him  unwilling 
to  enter  upon  it  again:  however,  he  alleged  the  words, 
"  Take,  eat,  this  is  my  body,"  adding,  "  these  are  the  words 
of  Christ;  wilt  thou  deny  them?"  He  answered,  "My  lord, 
they  are  the  words  of  scripture;  I  affirm  and  do  not  deny 
them."  "  Why,  then,"  said  Rochester,  "thou  dost  confess, 
in  the  sacrament  of  the  altar  to  be  a  real  presence,  the 
self-same  body  that  was  born  of  the  Virgin  Mary,  and  is 
ascended  up  into  heaven."  Gratwick  asked,  if  he  meant 
a  visible  body:  for  if  it  were  a  real  presence,  and  a 
material  body,  it  must  be  a  visible  body  also.  Winches- 
ter asserted  it  was  a  real  and  material,  but  invisible  body: 
he  observed,  then  it  must  be  a  fantastical  body,  if  it 
were  both  material  and  invisible ;  for  it  was  manifest  that 
our  Lord's  human  body  was  visible  and  seen.  Here  the 
bishop  broke  in,  and  asked  where  he  had  seen  Christ? 
Gratwick  asked  if  it  followed  that  Christ  was  invisible 
because  their  corporeal  eyes  could  not  comprehend  him. 
The  bishop  then  took  another  line,  and  referred  to  Judas, 
who,  he  said,  in  eating  the  sacrament,  ate  Christ  wholly, 
as  the  apostles  did.  Gratwick  asked  if  he  meant  Christ's 
flesh  and  blood,  spoken  of  in  the  sixth  of  John,  where  it  is 
written,  "  He  that  eateth  my  flesh  and  drinketh  my  blood 
hath  eternal  life  in  me."  The  bishop  replied  he  did. 
"  Then,"  said  Gratwick,  "  of  necessity  Judas  must  needs 
be  saved,  because  he  did  eat  the  flesh  and  drink  the  blood 
of  Christ  as  you  have  affirmed :  and  also  all  the  un- 
godly who  die  without  repentance,  because  they  have  eaten 
your  sacrament,  which  you  say  is  the  flesh  and  blood  of 
Christ :  therefore  of  necessity  they  shall  receive  the  benefit 
thereof,  that  is,  eternal  life ;  which  is  a  great  absurdity  to 
grant.     And  then  of  necessity  it  must  follow,  that  all  who 


GRATWICK.  205 

eat  not,  and  drink  not,  of  your  sacrament,  shall  finally 
perish  and  be  condemned :  for  Christ  saith,  "  Except  ye 
eat  my  flesh  and  drink  my  blood,  ye  can  have  no  life  in 
you."  And  you  have  afore  said  that  of  your  sacrament, 
which  you  say  is  the  same  flesh  and  blood  that  Christ 
speaketh  of:  and  here  I  prove,  that  all  children  then  that 
die  under  age  to  receive  the  sacrament,  by  your  own  argu- 
ment must  be  damned : — which  is  horrible  blasphemy  to 
speak.  Now  here  I  turn  your  own  argument  upon  you : 
answer  it  if  you  can."  Winchester  here  accused  him  of  de- 
ceit, sophistry,  and  perverseness ;  then  asserted  that  St.  Paul 
had  plainly  opened  the  sixth  of  St.  John,  saying,  "  They 
eat  Christ's  body  and  drink  his  blood  unworthily,"  and 
that  was  the  cause  of  their  condemnation.  But  Gratwick 
at  once  corrected  him ;  "  My  lord,  take  heed  ye  do  not  add 
unto  the  text,  for  he  that  addeth  unto  the  text  is  accursed 
of  God ;  and  I  am  sure  you  have  brought  more  than  Paul 
hath  spoken:  for  he  saith  not,  because  they  have  eaten  his 
body  and  drank  his  blood  unworthily;  but  St.  Paul  saith, 
"  Whosoever  shall  eat  of  this  bread,  and  drink  of  this  cup 
unworthily,  shall  be  guilty  of  the  body  and  blood  of  Christ." 
Note,  my  lord,  he  saith  not  as  you  have  affirmed,  but  clean 
contrary." 

At  this  they  were  greatly  enraged,  Winchester  saying 
that  he  belied  the  text ;  on  which  he  called  for  a  Testa- 
ment, but  Winchester  tried  to  evade  it,  by  reminding  him 
how  he  had  objected  to  Latin,  insisting  on  English  being 
used  for  the  people's  sake.  When,  however,  Gratwick  per- 
sisted in  demanding  a  Testament,  whether  Latin  or  Eng- 
lish, the  bishop  stood  up,  and  asked  whether  any  of  the 
audience  could  lend  him  an  English  Testament.  The  man 
who  should  have  produced  one,  would  presently  have  been 
laid  in  prison,  on  a  charge  of  heresy:  but  the  poor  flock 
were  now  too  wary  to  be  so  easily  ensnared.  No  answer 
was  given  to  the  treacherous  inquiry,  and  Winchester  then 
turned  to  railing  at  Gratwick,  saying  he  gloried  in  his  talk, 
and  in  the  support  of  the  people,  who  were  come  about  him 
to  be  encouraged  in  their  heresy:  that  when  last  before  him 
at  St,  Mary's  church,  Gratwick  had  reproved  his  sermon  ; 
and  had  at  least  a  thousand  by  him  to  pray  God  strength- 
en him  :  "  but  now,"  he  continued,  "  let  me  see  him  here 
that  dare  open  his  mouth  to  bid  God  strengthen  thee ;  he 
shall  die  the  death  that  thou  shalt  die."  The  martyr  re- 
plied, "  My  lord,  I  know  your  cruelty  doth  extend  more 

MABTyROLOGY. VOL.  II.  18 


206  GRATWICK. 

largely  than  your  pity.  Good  experience  have  I  so  to  say: 
for  you  keep  men  in  prison  a  year  or  two,  taking  their 
books  from  them,  permitting  them  not  so  much  as  a  Tes- 
tament to  look  upon  for  their  soul's  comfort,  the  which  all 
men  ought  to  have :  and  so  you  treat  them  more  like  brutes 
than  Christian  men."  "  No,  sir,"  answered  the  worthy 
successor  of  Stephen  Gardiner,  "  we  will  use  you  as  we  use 
the  child  :  for  if  the  child  will  hurt  himself  with  the  knife, 
we  will  keep  the  knife  from  him.  So,  because  you  will 
damn  your  souls  with  the  word,  therefore  you  shall  not 
have  it."  Gratwick  asked  him  if  he  was  not  ashamed  to 
make  the  word  of  God  the  cause  of  their  condemnation : 
observing,  it  were  as  good  an  argument  to  say,  that  because 
some  men  did  abuse  drink,  therefore  meat  and  drink  should 
be  taken  from  all  men.  Here  the  counterfeit  bishop  of 
Chichester,  who  had  been  dosing  all  this  while,  waked  up, 
and  hastily  desired  them  to  read  his  articles  once  more  ; 
and  if  he  would  not  answer  them,  to  take  him  on  his  first 
words,  "  That  which  I  have  said  I  have  said."  Winches- 
ter began  to  read  them,  but  Gratwick  assured  him  he  would 
not  answer  those  articles,  as  they  were  altogether  false, 
forged,  and  different  from  his  real  examinations;  merely 
invented  to  shed  his  blood.  Then  the  counterfeit  charged 
him,  in  St.  Peter's  words,  to  render  a  reason  of  the  hope 
that  was  in  him:  to  which  he  answered,  "  So  can  I  do, 
and  yet  I  shall  not  please  you ;  for  here  I  now  render  my 
hope  as  St.  Peter  willeth  me  :  I  believe  only  in  Jesus  Christ, 
to  have  my  salvation  in  him,  by  him,  and  through  him  ; 
but  I  perceive  you  would  have  me  render  my  faith  in  such 
sort  as  you  would  have  my  blood ;  and  therefore  you  bring 
good  scriptures,  and  evil  apply  them."  Winchester  pro- 
posed to  pronounce  sentence  at  once,  and  lose  no  more  time 
about  him;  on  which  Gratwick  desired  to  say  a  few  words  for 
himself,  and  told  the  bishop  that  on  the  last  Sunday  preach- 
ing against  him  and  other  prisoners,  he  had  taken  the  text 
of  St.  James,  "  If  an,y  man  among  you  seem  to  be  religious, 
and  bridleth  not  his  tongue,  but  deceiveth  himself,  that  man's 
religion  is  vain ;"  and  had  then  with  his  own  tongue  slan- 
dered the  prisoners,  accusing  them  of  Arianism,  and  Pela- 
gianism ;  calling  them  Herodians  and  Anabaptists.  When 
they  stood  up  to  justify  themselves  from  heresies  against 
which  they  would  give  their  lives,  even  as  he  would  give 
his  life  for  the  cause  in  which  he  there  stood  before  that 
company,  the  bishop  had  threatened  to  cut  out  their  tongues, 


GRATWICK.  207 

and  to  have  them  pulled  out  of  the  church  by  violence. 
He  showed  how  awfully,  in  this,  the  wretched  prelate  had 
offended  against  the  very  scripture  that  he  had  undertaken 
to  expound. 

Winchester,  in  a  rage,  here  caught  up  the  condemnation, 
declaring  he  would  sentence  him  for  his  former  words, 
"  I  have  said,"  if  he  refused  to  answer  those  articles. 
Gratwick  said  he  would  answer  them,  if  they  could  prove 
them  to  be  any  part  of  his  former  examinations:  that 
is,  of  the  original  charge  against  him,  which  he  had  already 
answered.  Winchester  replied,  "  Have  at  thee  now:  if  thou 
wilt  not  yield,  I  will  pronounce  sentence  against  thee;" 
and  then  went  on  to  curse  and  ban  in  Latin,  at  such  a  rate, 
that  the  martyr  told  him,  if  the  people  might  hear  it  in 
English,  they  would  think  him  an  uncharitable  bishop : 
also  bidding  him  take  heed  what  he  did,  for  that  he  had 
neither  temporal  nor  spiritual  law  against  him,  in  any  cause. 
A  gentleman  repeated  this  to  the  bishop  again,  when  Win- 
chester paused,  and  asked  if  he  would  recant :  Gratwick 
inquired  whereof  he  should  recant;  to  which  the  bishop  re- 
plied, "  Ah,  are  you  there?  nay,  then  I  know  what  I  have 
to  do ;  and  so  finished  reading  the  sentence.  However, 
the  bishop's  chaplains,  misunderstanding  some  quiet,  and 
even  playful  reply  given  by  the  martyr  to  a  man  who  was 
scoffing  and  railing  at  him,  cried  out,  "  Stop,  stop,  my  lord: 
for  now  he  will  recant."  Winchester  asked  him  if  he 
would  ;  he  replied,  "My  lord,  my  faith  is  grounded  more 
steadfastly  than  to  change  in  a  moment;  it  is  no  process  of 
time  can  alter  me,  unless  my  faith  were  as  the  waves  of  the 
sea."  On  this  he  was  delivered  to  the  sheriffs,  loudly 
praying  to  God  not  to  lay  his  blood  to  their  charge,  if  it 
were  his  good  will.  As  he  was  led  away,  he  spoke  to  those 
around  him,  when  a  cry  was  raised,  "  Cut  out  his  tongue, 
or  stop  his  mouth."  He  was  taken  to  the  Marshalsea,  and 
laid  in  irons  where  he  wrote  the  foregoing  account,  ending 
thus:  "  Therefore  I  pray  unto  God  that  they  unto  whom 
this  present  writing  shall  come,  may  take  example  by  my 
death,  and  soldier  fare.     So  be  it." 

Winchester  had  acted  throughout  a  Satanic  part;  for, 
unable  to  intimidate  this  steadfast  confessor,  he  had  used 
every  allurement  to  seduce  him  from  the  faith.  He  praised 
his  eloquence,  learning,  and  knowledge;  commended  his 
personal  comeliness,  as  being  fitted  to  grace  a  court;  and 
by  such  means  sought  to  draw  him  unawares  into  some 


208  SHARPE HALE ALLIN. 

concession  that  should  establish  his  right  to  judge  him,  as 
his  ordinary.  But  the  Lord  strengthened  his  servant,  who 
endured  the  short  though  cruel  pains  of  martyrdom  with 
the  two  others,  and  went  to  his  eternal  rest. 

Two  were  delivered  to  the  flames  at  Bristol,  in  the  same 
month — Richard  Sharpe,  and  Thomas  Hale.  Sharpe, 
a  poor  weaver,  had  been  terrified  and  persuaded  by  Dalby, 
the  chancellor,  into  an  act  of  recantation,  more  than  a  year 
before ;  after  which  he  became  so  miserable  that  the  suffer- 
ings of  his  mind  and  conscience  were  not  to  be  endured: 
his  flesh  wasted,  his  countenance  changed,  and  he  could  no 
longer  labour,  as  before,  at  his  occupation.  Led  by  the 
Spirit  of  God,  whom  he  had  so  deeply  grieved,  the  repent- 
ant offender  came  soon  after  to  the  Temple  church,  in  Bris- 
tol, after  high  mass,  and  at  the  door  of  the  choir  said,  with 
a  loud  voice,  pointing  to  the  altar,  "  Neighbours,  bear  me 
record  that  yonder  idol  is  the  greatest  and  most  abominable 
that  ever  was ;  and  I  am  sorry  that  ever  I  denied  my  Lord 
God."  The  constables  were  ordered  to  apprehend  him  in- 
stantly, but  no  one  moved;  so  he  left  the  church.  He  was 
afterwards  seized  in  the  night,  and,  remaining  true  to  his 
confession,  they  condemned  and  sent  him  to  his  pardoning 
God. 

Hale  was  a  shoemaker :  they  took  him  also  in  the  night, 
from  his  bed,  on  a  charge  of  heresy;  when  he  remarked, 
"  You  have  sought  my  blood  these  two  years,  and  now 
much  good  do  you  with  it."  On  his  examination,  he  avow- 
ed the  sacrament  of  the  altar  to  be  idolatrous,  and  was  sen- 
tenced. These  two,  being  bound  back  to  back  at  one  stake, 
gladly  received  the  fire:  Hale  embracing  it  with  his  arms, 
as  a  friend  whom  he  delighted  to  welcome. 

Thornton  and  Harpsfield,  whose  fiery  hatred  to  the  flock 
of  Christ  sent  many  a  soul  to  lie  under  the  altar,*  and 
neeeded  no  stirring  up  by  such  a  proclamation  as  that  lately 
issued,  had  soon  after  the  gratification  of  burning  seven 
martyrs  at  once,  two  men  and  five  women,  in  Maidstone. 
Walter  Appleby,  and  Petroni,  his  wife;  Edmund  Al- 
LI3V,  and  Katharine,  his  wife;  Joan  Bracebridge,  a 
woman  named  Mannings,  and  a  blind  girl,  called  Eliza- 
beth, formed  this  company.  Nothing  is  preserved  of  their 
examinations,  except  that  of  Edmund  Allin,  who  was  a 
miller,  in  Kent,  and  in  a  year  of  great  scarcity  fed  the 
poor,  selling  his  corn  at  half  the  market  price ;  also  sup- 
•  Rev.  vi.  9. 


EDMUND    ALLIN.  209 

plying  their  souls  with  the  bread  of  life,  by  reading  and 
explaining  to  them  the  Holy  Scriptures.  This  coming  to 
the  knowledge  of  the  neighbouring  priests,  Allin  and  his 
wife  were  summoned  before  the  magistrate,  named  sir  John 
Baker,  who  committed  them  to  prison ;  from  which,  soon 
after,  they  got  out  and  escaped  to  Calais.  Here,  however, 
Allin  could  not  rest :  his  mind  was  uneasy;  and  he  told  a 
friend  that  he  knew  not  what  caused  it,  but  he  supposed 
God  had  something  for  him  to  do  in  England.  Under  this 
impression  he  returned  to  his  native  village,  Fytenden. 

Taylor,  the  priest  of  the  parish,  who  had  been  the  first 
to  report  them  before,  heard  of  their  return,  and  finding 
they  were  not  at  mass  on  the  next  Sunday,  he  suspended 
the  service,  a  little  before  the  elevation  of  the  wafer,  and, 
turning  to  the  people  in  a  great  rage,  ordered  them  to  go  to 
the  house  of  the  miller,  and  to  apprehend  him  and  his  wife, 
promising  to  be  with  them  himself  as  soon  as  possible. 
Then,  hurrying  over  the  rest  of  his  mass-work,  and  throw- 
ing ofT  his  vestments,  he  went  with  all  speed  to  assist  in 
haling  the  innocent  people  again  before  justice  Baker :  he 
committed  them  to  Maidstone  gaol,  and  then  sent  some  of 
his  men  to  their  house  to  search  it,  who,  by  breaking  a 
lock,  possessed  themselves  of  a  sum  of  money,  which  they 
kept ;  making  also  a  seizure  of  Bibles,  psalters,  other  good 
books,  and  writings :  these  were  taken  by  the  priest  of  the 
next  parish,  and  by  law  recovered  from  him  in  the  reign 
of  queen  Elizabeth.  The  good  miller  and  his  wife,  being 
thus  maliciously  accused,  wrongfully  imprisoned,  and  rob- 
bed, were  exposed  to  the  taunts  and  revilings  of  justice 
Baker,  who  commenced  by  asking  Allin,  "  Who  gave  thee 
authority  to  preach  and  interpret  ?  Art  thou  a  priest  1  Art 
thou  admitted  thereunto  ?  Let  me  see  thy  license  ?"  To 
which  one  Collins,  his  worship's  chaplain  or  schoolmaster, 
added,  "  Surely  he  is  an  arrant  heretic,  and  worthy  to  be 
burned."  The  miller  made  this  reply: — "  An  it  may  please 
your  honour  to  give  me  leave  to  answer  in  the  cause  of  my 
faith,  I  am  persuaded  that  God  hath  given  me  this  autho- 
rity, as  he  hath  given  to  all  other  Christians.  Why  are  we 
called  Christians,  if  we  do  not  follow  Christ — if  we  do  not 
read  his  law — if  we  do  not  interpret  it  to  others  that  have 
not  so  much  understanding?  Is  not  Christ  our  Father? 
Shall  not  the  son  follow  the  Father's  steps  ?  Is  not  Christ 
our  Master  ?  And  shall  the  scholar  be  inhibited  to  learn 
and  preach  his  precepts "?  Is  not  Christ  our  Redeemer  ? 
18* 


iilO  EDMUND    ALLIN. 

And  shall  not  we  praise  his  name  that  hath  redeemed  us 
from  sin  and  damnation  ?  Did  not  Christ,  being  but  twelve 
years  old,  dispute  with  the  doctors  ;  and  interpret  the  pro- 
phet Isaiah  1  And  yet,  notwithstanding,  he  was  neither  of 
the  tribe  of  Levi,  which  were  priests,  but  of  the  royal 
tribe  of  Judah,  neither  had  taken  any  outward  priesthood  : 
wherefore,  if  we  be  Christians,  we  must  do  the  same,"  "An 
it  shall  like  your  honour,"  quoth  Collins,  "  what  a  knave 
is  this,  that  compareth  himself  with  Christ?"  Baker  repli- 
ed. "Let  him  alone;  he  will  pump  out  anon  an  infinite 
heap  of  heresies.  Hast  thou  any  more  to  say  for  thyself?" 
"  Yea,  that  I  have,"  answered  Allin.  "Adam  was  licensed 
of  God,  and  Abraham  was  commanded  to  teach  his  children 
and  posterity,  and  so  David  teaches  in  divine  psalms  ;  and 
Solomon  also  preached  to  the  people,  as  the  book  of '  The 
Preacher'  proveth  very  well ;  where  he  teacheth  that  there 
is  no  immortal  felicity  in  this  life,  but  in  the  next.  And 
Noah  taught  them  that  were  disobedient  in  his  days  ;  and 
therefore  is  called  the  eighth  preacher  of  righteousness,  in 
the  second  epistle  of  Peter.  Also  in  the  second  of  Num- 
bers, where  Moses  had  chosen  seventy  elders  to  help  him  to 
teach  and  rule  the  rest,  Eldad  and  Medad  preached  in  the 
tents;  wherefore  Joshua,  being  offended,  complained  to 
Moses  that  Eldad  and  Medad  did  preach  without  license. 
To  whom  Moses  answered,  and  wished  that  all  the  people 
could  do  the  like.  Why  should  I  be  long  ?  Most  of  the 
priests  were  not  of  the  tribe  of  Levi  and  Aaron."  Collins 
said,  "  These  are  authorities  of  the  Old  Testament,  and 
therefore  abrogated ;  but  thou  art  a  fool,  and  knowest  no 
school  points.  Is  not  the  law  divided  into  the  law  ceremo- 
nial, moral,  and  judicial  ?"  "  I  grant,"  replied  Allin,  "  that 
the  ceremonies  ceased  when  Christ  came,  as  St.  Paul  prov- 
eth to  the  Hebrews  and  to  the  Colossians,  where  he  saith, 
*  Let  no  man  judge  you  in  any  part  of  the  Sabbath  day, 
new  moon  or  other  ceremonies,  which  are  figures  of  things 
to  come  :  for  Christ  is  the  body.'  " 

"  And  are  not  the  judicials  abrogated  by  Christ  ?"  asked 
Collins.  "  They  are  confirmed,"  he  replied,  "  both  by 
Christ  in  the  fifth  of  Matthew,  and  by  Paul  in  the  first  epis- 
tle to  Timothy,  iv.  The  law  saith  he,  is  not  set  forth  for 
the  virtuous  and  godly,  but  for  manslayers,  perjui'ers,  adul- 
terers, and  such  like."  Collins  exclaimed,  "thou  art  an 
heretic.  Wilt  thou  call  the  judicials  of  Moses  again  ? — 
wilt  thou  have  adultery  punished  with  death? — disobedient 


EDMUND    ALLIN.  211 

children  to  their  parents  to  be  stoned? — wilt  thou  have  legem 
talionis?  But  thou  art  an  ass.  Why  should  I  speak  Latin 
to  thee,  thou  erroneous  rebel  1  Shall  we  now  smite  out  eye 
for  eye,  tooth  for  tooth  1  Thou  art  worthy  to  have  thy 
teeth  and  tongue  plucked  out."  To  this  Allin  answered, 
"  If  we  had  that  law,  we  should  neither  have  disobedient 
children,  neither  adulterers,  neither  false-witness  bearers, 
neither  ruffians."  Here  Baker  interrupted.  "  Master  Col- 
lins, let  us  return  to  our  first  matter.  Why  didst  thou 
teach  the  people,  whom  thou  saidst  thou  didst  feed  both 
bodily  and  spiritually,  being  no  priest?" 

"  Because  that  we  are  all  kings  to  rule  our  affections, 
priests  to  preach  out  the  virtues  and  word  of  God  as  Peter 
writeth,  and  lively  stones  to  give  light  to  other ;  for  as  out 
of  flint-stones  cometh  forth  that  which  is  able  to  set  all  the 
world  on  fire,  so  out  of  Christians  should  spring  the  beams 
of  the  gospel,  which  should  inflame  all  the  world.     If  we 
must  give  a  reckoning  of  our  faith  to  every  man,  and  now 
to  you  demanding  it,  then  must  we  study  the  scriptures  and 
practise  them.     What  availeth  it  a  man  to  have  meat,  and 
will  eat  none;  and  apparel,  and  will  wear  none;  or  to  have 
an  occupation,  and  to  teach  none?  Shall  every  artificer  be 
suffered,  yea,  and  commanded,  to  practise  his  faculty  and 
science,  and  the  Christian  forbidden  to  exercise  his  ?    Doth 
not  every  lawyer  practise  his  law?    Is  not  every  Christian 
a  follower  of  Christ  ?  Shall  ignorance,  which  is  condemned 
in  all  sciences,  be  practised  of  Christians  ?     Doth  not  St. 
Paul  forbid  any  man's  spirit  to  be  quenched  ?  Doth  he  pro- 
hibit any  man  that  hath  any  of  these  gifts,  which  he  re- 
peateth,  1  Cor.  xiv.  to  practise  the  same  ?    Only  he  forbid- 
deth  women,  but  no  man.     The  Jews  never  forbade  any: 
read  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles.  And  the  restraint  was  made 
by  Gregory,  the  ninth  pope  of  that  name,  as  I  have  heard 
one,  a  learned  man,  preach  in  King  Edward's  days."  Col- 
lins here  said  to  the  justice,  "  This  villain,  an  it  like  your 
honour,  is  mad.     By  my  priesthood,  I  believe  that  he  will 
say,  that  a  priest  hath  no  more  authority  than  another  man. 
Doth  not  a  priest  bind  and  loose?"    Allin  answered,  "  No  ; 
my  sin  bindeth  me,  and  my  repentance  looseth.     God  for- 
giveth  sin  only,  and  no  priest ;  for  every  Christian,  when 
he  sinneth,  bindeth  himself,  and  when  he  repenteth  looseth 
himself:  and  if  any  other  be  loosed  from  his  sin  by  my  ex- 
hortation, I  am  said  to  loose  him ;  and  if  he  persevere  in 
sin,  notwithstanding  my  exhortation,  I  am  said  to  bind  him, 


212  EDMUND    ALLIN. 

although  it  is  God  that  bindeth  and  looseth,  and  giveth  the 
increase.  Therefore,  saith  Christ,  '  Wheresoever  two  or 
three  are  gathered  together  in  my  name,  there  am  I  in  the 
midst  of  them.'  And  again,  '  Whosoever  sins  ye  forgive, 
they  are  forgiven;  and  whosoever  sins  ye  retain,  they  are 
retained.'  Neither  hath  the  pope  any  keys,  save  the  keys 
of  error ;  for  the  key  that  openeth  the  lock  to  God's  myste- 
ries and  to  salvation,  is  the  key  of  faith  and  repentance ; 
and,  as  I  have  heard  learned  men  reason,  St.  Augustine 
and  Origen,  with  others,  are  of  this  opinion." 

It  may  be  supposed  that  all  this  was  more  than  usually 
shocking  in  the  ears  of  poor  Allin's  examiners  ;  they  reviled 
him,  and  laid  him  in  the  stocks  that  night.  Some,  how- 
ever, who  were  not  so  cruel,  gave  him  what  they  considered 
good  counsel;  appealing  to  a  part  of  what  the  Romish 
church  receives  as  scripture;  but  which  is,  in  truth,  so  full 
of  blasphemy  and  falsehood  that  it  is  a  great  marvel  the 
framers  of  the  English  liturgy  have  allowed  it  to  be  read  in 
the  church — the  apocrypha.  In  the  forged  book  of  Baruch, 
it  is  written,  "  Wherefore,  when  ye  see  the  multitude  of 
people  worshipping  them,  behind  and  before,  say  ye  in  your 
hearts,  O  Lord,  it  is  thou  that  ought  only  to  be  worshipped." 
The  simple  miller  was  beguiled  by  this  appeal  to  what  he 
found  bound  up  with  his  Bible ;  and  resolving  to  follow  the 
Jesuitical  counsel,  so  wickedly  attributed  to  Baruch,  he 
agreed  to  be  present  at  mass,  with  a  mental  reservation — 
that  darling  loop-hole  of  popish  consciences — against  what 
he  should  outwardly  conform  to.  The  Spirit  of  God,  how- 
ever, strove  too  mightily  within  him,  against  this  treache- 
rous subterfuge,  to  allow  it  to  prevail,  and  Allin  suddenly 
left  the  church,  before  the  grand  act  of  idolatry  was  com- 
mitted. He  considered  that  a  little  cake  between  the  priest's 
fingers  could  not  be  Christ,  nor  a  material  body;  neither 
having  soul,  life,  sinews,  bones,  flesh,  legs,  arms,  nor 
breast;  and  he  lamented  having  been  seduced  by  that 
which  his  conscience  testified  to  be  no  scripture.  He  did 
not  return  to  the  church ;  and  was  of  course  summoned  be- 
fore Baker  to  answer  for  his  contumacy,  who  asked  him 
why  he  refused  to  worship  the  blessed  sacrament  of  the 
altar?  "  It  is  an  idol,"  said  Allin.  "  It  is  God's  body," 
returned  CoUins.  "  It  is  not,"  repeated  the  martyr.  "  By 
the  mass  it  is,"  says  the  priest.  "  It  is  bread,"  said  Allin. 
"  How  provest  thou  that?"  asked  the  other.  AUin  replied, 
"  When  Christ  sat  at  the  supper,  and  gave  them  bread  to 


EDMUND    ALLIN.  213 

eat," — but  Collins  angrily  broke  in,  "  Bread,  knave?" 
"  Yea,  bread,"  he  repeated,  "  which  you  call  Christ's  body. 
Sat  he  still  at  the  table,  or  was  he  both  in  their  mouths  and 
at  the  table  ?  If  he  was  in  their  mouths  and  at  the  table, 
then  had  he  two  bodies  or  else  a  fantastical  body;  which  is 
an  absurdity  to  say  it."  Baker  remarked,  "  Christ's  body 
was  glorified,  and  might  be  in  more  places  than  one." 
"  Then  he  had  more  bodies  than  one,  by  your  own  placing 
of  him,"  saith  Allin.  Collins  exclaimed,  "  Thou  ignorant 
ass  !  the  schoolmen  say  that  a  glorified  body  may  be  every 
where."  But  Allin  rejoined,  "  If  his  body  was  not  glorified 
till  it  rose  again,  then  was  it  not  glorified  at  his  last  supper; 
and  therefore  it  was  not  at  the  table  and  in  their  mouths,  by 
your  own  reason."  "  A  glorified  body  occupieth  no  place," 
quoth  Collins :  to  which  the  miller  replied,  "  That  which 
occupieth  no  place  is  neither  God  nor  any  thing  else:  but 
Christ's  body,  say  you,  occupieth  no  place:  therefore  it  is 
neither  God  nor  any  thing  else.  If  it  be  nothing,  then  is 
your  religion  nothing:  if  it  be  God,  then  have  we  four  in 
our  trinity,  which  is  the  person  of  the  Father,  the  person 
of  the  Son,  the  person  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  the  human 
nature  of  Christ.  If  Christ  be  nothing,  which  you  must 
needs  confess  if  he  occupieth  no  place,  then  is  our  study 
in  vain,  our  faith  frustrate,  and  our  hope  without  reward." 
Collins  again  cried  out,  "  This  rebel  will  believe  nothing 
but  scripture.  How  knowest  thou  that  it  is  scripture,  but  by 
the  church  ?  And  so  saith  St.  Augustine." 

Allin  answered  very  beautifully,  "  I  cannot  tell  what  St. 
Augustine  saith  ;  but  I  am  persuaded  that  it  is  scripture  by 
divei-s  arguments:  first  that  the  law  worketh  in  me  my 
condemnation.  The  law  telleth  me  that  of  myself  I  am 
damned ;  and  this  damnation,  Mr.  Collins,  you  must  find 
in  yourself, — or  else  you  shall  never  come  to  repentance. 
For  as  this  grief  and  sorrow  of  conscience,  without  faith, 
is  desperation;  so  is  a  vain-glorious  and  Romish  faith,  with- 
out the  lamentation  of  a  man's  sins,  presumption.  The  se- 
cond is  the  gospel,  which  is  the  power  and  Spirit  of  God: 
this  Spirit,  saith  St.  Paul,  certified  my  spirit,  that  I  am  the 
son  of  God;  and  that  these  are  the  scriptures.  The  third 
are  the  wonderful  works  of  God,  which  caused  me  to  be- 
lieve that  there  is  a  God,  though  we  glorify  him  not  as 
God ;  (Rom.  i.)  the  sun,  the  moon,  the  stars,  and  other  his 
works,  as  David  discourseth  in  Psalm  xix.  declare  that 
there  is  a  God,  and  that  these  are  the  scriptures ;  because 


214  EDMUND    ALLIN. 

that  they  teach  nothing  else  but  God  and  his  power,  ma- 
jesty and  might ;  and  because  the  scripture  teacheth  no- 
thing different  from  this  prescription  of  nature.  And, 
fourthly,  because  that  the  word  of  God  gave  authority  to 
the  church  in  paradise,  saying,  that  the  seed  of  the  woman 
should  break  the  serpent's  head.  This  seed  is  the  gos- 
pel;* this  is  all  the  scriptures,  and  by  this  we  are  as- 
sured of  eternal  life ;  and  these  words, '  the  seed  of  the  wo- 
man shall  break  the  serpent's  head,'  gave  authority  to  the 
church,  and  not  the  church  to  the  word." 

Then  Baker  said,  "  I  heard  say  that  you  spake  against 
priests  and  bishops."  "I  spake  for  them,"  he  replied: 
"  for  now  they  have  so  much  living,  and  especially  bish- 
opss  archdeacons,  and  deans,  that  they  neither  can  nor  Avill 
trust  to  God's  word.  If  they  had  a  hundred  pounds  a-piece, 
then  would  they  apply  their  study;  now  they  cannot  for 
their  affairs."  Collins  asked,  "  Who  then  will  set  his  chil- 
dren to  school  ?"  He  answered,  "  Where  there  is  one  now 
set  to  school  for  that  end,  there  would  be  forty;  because  that 
one  bishop's  living  divided  into  thirty  or  forty  parts,  would 
find  so  many  well  learned  men  as  the  bishops  be  now,  who 
have  all  this  living:  neither  had  Peter  or  Paul  any  such 
revenue."  "  Let  us  despatch  him,"  said  the  justice:  "he 
will  mar  all."  But  the  schoolmaster,  having  nothing  to 
lose,  and  every  thing  to  gain,  in  such  a  scramble  as  the 
miller  proposed,  remarked,  "  If  every  man  had  a  hundred 
pounds,  as  he  saith,  it  would  make  more  learned  men." 
Baker  objected,  "But  our  bishops  would  be  angry,  if  they 
knew  it."  AUin  said,  "  It  were  for  the  common  wealth  to 
have  such  bishoprics  divided,  for  the  farther  increase  of 
learning."  "What  sayest  thou  to  the  sacrament?"  demand- 
ed Baker.  "  As  I  said  before."  "  Away  with  him!"  And 
so  the  innocent  and  godly  servant  of  Christ  was  taken  to 
prison,  and  with  his  wife  and  the  other  six,  burned  to 
ashes. 

In  the  same  diocese,  and  in  the  town  of  Canterbury, 
these  wretched  persecutors  next  sacrificed  another  com- 
pany of  seven,  of  whom  four  were  women.  They  seem  to 
have  particularly  delighted  in  trying  the  faith  and  tor- 
turing the  weak  bodies  of  poor  females ;  but  the  omnipo- 
tency  of  God  endued  them  with  strength  and  fortitude  con- 

*  Here  Allin  is  in  evident  error :  not  the  gospel  but  Christ,  is  the 
woman's  seed ;  not  the  written  word,  but  the  living  Word :  not  the 
church,  but  her  Spouse  and  Head. 


ALICE    BENDEN    AND    OTHERS.  215 

stantly  to  withstand  the  utmost  extremity  of  this  pitiless  per- 
secution.    The  names  of  the  victims  were  as  follows :  John 
FisHCOoK,  Nicholas  White,  Nicholas  Pardue,  Alice 
Benden,  another  married   woman  named  Wilson,  and  a 
widow,    Bradbridge.     The   case   of  Alice   Benden    may 
serve  as  a  sample  of  the  rest.     She  was  brought  before  a 
magistrate,  in  October,  1556,  who  demanded  why  she  did 
not  go  to  church :  she  answered  that  she  could  not  do  so 
with  a  good  and  clear  conscience,  because  there  was  much 
idolatry  committed  against   the   glory  of  God.     She  was 
then,  with  many  mocks  and  taunts,  sent  to  prison ;  but  her 
husband  having  some  interest  with  his  wealthy  neighbours 
at  Staplehurst,  got  them  to  write  to  the  bishop  of  Dover, 
who  had  the  chief  power  of  the  sword  of  spiritual  tyranny 
in  that  part  of  the  country.     He,  on  receiving  the  letter, 
sent  for  Alice,  asking  if  she  would  go  home,  and  go  to  the 
church :  she  replied,  "  If  I  would  have  so  done,  I  need  not 
to   have  come  hither."     "  Wilt  thou    go    home,"  said   he, 
"  and  be  shriven  of  thy  parish  priest !"     She  said,  No,  that 
she  would  not.    However,  he  repeated,  "  Well,  go  thy  ways 
home,  and  go  to  the  church  when  thou  wilt."     She  made 
no  answer  to  this ;  but  a  priest   standing  by,  said,  "  She 
saith  that  she  will,  my  lord:  wherefore  let  her  go."     On 
this,  she  was  set   at  liberty,  and  returned  to  her  home; 
where  her  husband,  as  he  before  had  done,  urged  her  to  go 
to  mass,  which  she  constantly  refused  to  do.     After  a  fort- 
night's unsuccessful  persuasion,  he  went  on  Sunday  to  the 
church,  and  by  his  talk  among  his  neighbours  there,  occa- 
sioned his  wife  to  be  again  apprehended,  and  taken  before 
Sir  John  Gilford,  who  sent  her  once  more  to  prison.  Shock- 
ing to  relate,  her  husband  agreed,  for  some  trifiing  sum  of 
money,  to  save  the  constable  the  trouble  of  taking  her  to 
the  gaol,  by  guarding  her  thither  himself;  but  the  poor  wo- 
man, unwilling  to  let  him  so  disgrace  himself,  went  to  the 
constable's  house,  and  desired  him  to  go  with  her.  He  said 
he  had  not  time ;  but  at  her  entreaty  sent  his  boy  to  walk 
beside  her  ;  and  in  this  custody  the  poor  creature  walked  at 
once  to  her  prison  in  the  castle  of  Canterbury. 

There  she  found  another  woman,  a  neighbour  of  her's, 
named  Potkins,  also  in  prison  for  the  truth:  and  these  two 
agreed  together  to  live  on  twopence-halfpenny  per  diem;  as 
they  heard  it  was  a  custom  there  to  starve  the  prisoners, 
when  it  could  be  done,  and  they  wished  thus  to  prepare 
themselves  for  greater  privations.  They  succeeded  in  mak- 


216  ALICE    BENDEN. 

ing  that  trifling  sum  suffice  for  their  daily  support,  during 
the  fortnight  that  they  remained  together ;  at  the  end  of 
that  time  Alice  was  removed,  and  Potkins  was  one  of  the 
five  afterwards  famished  in  the  castle,   whose  letter  has 
already  been  given.     The  occasion  of  Alice  Benden's  re- 
moval was  this  :  her  husband  went  to  the  bishop,  and  asked 
her  release ;  but  was  told  that  she  was  an  obstinate  heretic, 
who  could  not  be  reformed :  therefore  he  could  not  deliver 
her,     Benden   then  said,  "  My  lord,  she  hath  a  brother 
whose  name  is  Roger  Hall,  who  resorteth  unto  her.     If 
your  lordship  would  keep  him  from  her,  she  would  turn  ; 
for  he  comfortelh  her,  giveth  her  money,  and  persuadeth 
her  not  to  return  or  relent."    The  hint  was  presently  taken, 
and  cruelly  acted  upon :  Alice  was  ordered  to  closer  impri- 
sonment, with  a  strict  charge  that  if  her  brother  came,  he 
should  be  taken  into  custody.     Alice  was  carried  into  a 
dungeon,  or  vault,  the  window  of  which  looked  into  a  court; 
before  this  window  was  a  wooden  paling,  or  fence,  four 
feet  high,  and  three  feet  removed  from  it.     Her  lodging 
was  between  a  pair  of  stocks  and  the  stone  wall,  a  little 
short  straw  being  strewed  on  the  damp  ground.  Her  allow- 
ance was  a  halfpenny's  worth  of  bread,  and  a  farthing's  in 
drink,  each  day:  and  thus  she  continued  for  nine  weeks, 
without  a  change  of  apparel,  until  she  became  a  loathsome 
spectacle.     Meanwhile  Roger  Hall  frequently  visited  the 
place  in  search  of  his  sister,  at  the  imminent  peril  of  his 
life  ;  but  owing  to  the  situation  of  her  dungeon,  the  fence 
before  the  window,  and  its  not  being  generally  used  as  a 
prison,  it  was  long  before  he  found  her.     One  morning 
early,  when  the  keeper,  who  was  also  a  bell-ringer  was  ab- 
sent ringing  for  early  mass.  Hall  came  near  the  spot,  and 
heard  his  sister's  voice,  singing  forth  her  sorrowful  com- 
plaint in  some  of  David's  psalms.     On  this  he  put  money 
into  a  loaf  of  bread,  and  reached  it  to  her  on  the  end  of  a 
pole :  but  neither  meat  nor  drink  could  he  convey;  and  the 
keeper's  orders  being  to  allow  but  one  halfpenny  worth  of 
bread,  the  poor  prisoner  could  not  purchase  more  at  any 
price.    At  her  first  coming  into  this  noisome  place,  she  was 
exceedingly  cast  down,  and  with  many  grievous  lamenta- 
tions inquired  why  the  Lord  God  laid  so  heavy  a  hand  on 
her,  separating  her  from  her  loving  companions,  and  bring- 
ing her  into  such  extreme  misery;  still,  in  all  her  com- 
plaints and  supplications,  she  would  ever  repeat  the  verse, 
"  Why  art  thou  so  cast  down,  O  my  soul?"  adding,  "  The 


ALICE    BENDEN.  217 

right  hand  of  the  Most  High  can  change  all."  She  soon 
received  such  comfort,  being  strengthened  with  strength  in 
her  soul,  that  she  became  very  joyful  in  the  tribulation, 
and  continued  so  to  the  time  of  her  deliverance.  After 
five  months'  imprisonment,  more  than  two  of  them  passed 
in  this  dreadful  plight,  she  was  again  called  before  the 
bishop,  who  asked  her  whether  or  no  she  would  now  go 
home,  and  to  the  church  ;  promising  her  great  favour  if  she 
would  conform  to  their  doings.  She  answered,  "  I  am 
thoroughly  persuaded  by  the  great  extremity  you  have  al- 
ready showed  me,  that  you  are  not  of  God ;  neither  can 
your  doings  be  godly;  and  [  see  that  you  seek  my  utler 
destruction ;"  at  the  same  time  showing  them  how  she 
was  crippled  and  nearly  disabled  from  moving,  by  the 
cold  taken  in  that  frightful  lodging.  The  bishop  ordered 
her  to  be  removed  from  the  filthy  hole,  and  sent  lo  West- 
gate,  where,  after  she  had  been  a  little  cleansed,  and  new 
clad,  the  whole  of  her  skin  peeled  off,  as  though  it  had 
been  destroyed  by  some  deadly  application.  Here  she 
continued  for  one  month,  when  she  was  again  called  be- 
fore the  mitred  monster,  condemned  and  sent  to  Canter- 
bury castle,  to  be  kept  with  the  rest  until  their  slaughter 
day,  which  was  the  20th  of  June,  when  she,  with  the  other 
six,  passed  through  a  fiery  portal  to  the  green  pastures  of 
heaven. 

When  Alice  was  at  the  stake,  she  cast  her  handkerchief 
to  one  John  Banks,  desiring  him  to  keep  it  in  remembrance 
of  her;  then  from  about  her  waist  she  took  a  white  lace, 
charging  the  keeper  to  deliver  it  to  her  brother,  Roger  Hall, 
and  to  tell  him  that  it  was  the  last  band  that  she  was  bound 
with,  except  the  chain.  Moreover,  a  shilling  of  Philip  and 
Mary,  which  her  father  had  bent,  and  sent  to  her  when 
first  she  went  to  prison,  she  requested  that  Roger  would, 
with  her  obedient  salutations,  return  to  her  dear  father,  to 
satisfy  him  that  she  had  kept  it,  the  first  piece  of  money 
sent  to  her  after  her  troubles  began  ;  and  also  to  prove,  for 
his  satisfaction,  that  she  had  never  lacked  money  while  in 
prison.  Her  six  companions  had,  with  her,  kneeled  down, 
and  prayed  v»'ith  such  zeal  and  affection,  that  even  the  ene- 
mies of  Christ  could  not  but  admire  it:  they  then  undress- 
ed, and  went  most  cheerfully  and  joyfully  to  the  fire.  One 
of  them,  the  widow  Bradbridge,  had  two  children,  named 
Patience  and  Charity.  When  the  bishop  condemned  her, 
she  told  him  that  if  he  must  needs  burn  her,  she  hoped  he 

MARTYROLOGY. VOL.  II.  19 


218  MATTHEW    PLAISE. 

would  take  and  keep  Patience  and  Charity.  "  Nay," 
quoth  the  bishop,  "by  the  faith  of  my  body,  I  will  meddle 
with  neither  of  them  both." 

A  man  named  Matthew  Plaise,  of  whom  it  is  not  cer- 
tainly known  whether  he  was  burned,  famished  or  escaped, 
gave  some  shrewd  replies  to  this  bishop  Thornton,  and  his 
sanguinary  colleagues,  Harpsfield  and  Collins,  with  the 
other  inquisitors.  Plaise  was  a  weaver,  learned  in  nothing 
but  the  word  of  God ;  and  by  his  knowledge  thereof,  under 
divine  teaching,  able  to  baffle  all  the  Jesuitical  subtlety  and 
sophistry  of  these  school-bred  theologians,  and  to  resist  their 
idolatrous  superstitions.  A  kw  passages  only  need  be  cited, 
Plaise  himself  wrote  the  account.  "  Then  the  bishop  began 
with  me  again,  and  charged  me  in  the  king's  and  queen's 
name,  and  the  lord  cardinal's,  to  answer  yea  or  nay  to  the 
articles  that  followed.  Then  I  commanded  in  His  name  that 
should  come  in  flaming  fire  with  his  mighty  angels,  to  render 
vengeance  to  the  disobedient,  and  to  all  those  that  believed 
not  the  gospel  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  which  should  be  pun- 
ished with  everlasting  damnation,  that  he  would  speak  no- 
thing but  the  truth,  grounded  upon  Christ  and  his  apostles; 
and  then  I  would  answer  him,  or  else  not.  Then  he  was 
very  angry,  and  said  if  I  would  not  answer  he  would  con- 
demn me  indeed,  unless  I  would  answer  every  article.  Well, 
said  I,  if  you  do,  you  shall  be  guilty  of  my  blood,  and  prove 
yourself  a  murderer."  After  a  while,  Harpsfield  under- 
took the  argument;  and  this  is  a  part  of  the  dialogue. 
"  Then  I  saw  whereabout  they  went,  granting  to  answer 
them  by  the  word,  or  else  I  think  they  would  have  con- 
demned me  for  holding  my  peace;  and  this  was  my  begin- 
ning: I  believe  that  Christ  took  bread,  and  when  he  had 
given  thanks,  he  brake  it,  and  gave  it  to  his  disciples,  and 
said,  '  Take,  eat ;  this  is  my  body  which  is  given  for  you : 
this  do  in  remembrance  of  me.'  The  archdeacon  asked, 
Dost  thou  believe  that  Christ  meant  even  as  he  said  ?  I 
said,  Christ  was  no  dissembler,  but  he  spake  the  very  truth. 
Thou  hast  very  well  said ;  we  will  make  the  best  of  thy 
words.  Then  he  praised  me  with  many  words,  going  about 
to  prove  it  his  body,  real  and  substantial,  and  said,  Christ 
called  himself  bread  :  and  this  to  prove,  when  Christ  said 
'  This  is  my  body,'  the  bread  was  his  body,  said  he,  real 
and  substantial,  not  so  long  and  so  big  as  it  hung  on  the 
cross,  as  the  Capernaites  did  think;  but  we  eat  it  as  man's 
weak  nature  can  eat  Christ.     Therefore,  when  he  said, 


MATTHEW    PLAISE.  219 

•  This  is  my  body,'  the  bread  was  his  body  in  very  deed. 
Then  I  asked  him  what  Christ   meant   by  these  words, 

*  Which  is  given  for  you.'  He  said,  Christ  spake  that  of 
the  bread  also,  but  it  was  not  written  in  Matthew,  though 
Luke  had  these  words.  Then  I  asked  him,  if  Christ's  body 
was  made  of  bread,  whether  that  was  given  for  our  redemp- 
tion, or  whether  the  bread  was  crucified  for  us  or  no.  Then 
he  said.  No,  by  St.  Mary,  I  say  not  so.  I  said,  You  have 
spoke  the  truth  indeed,  and  even  as  I  believe.  Then  he 
stood  up  with  a  great  many  words,  and  said  that  I  did  think 
it  but  bare  bread  still,  as  other  bread  is ;  but  he  was  sure 
Christ  called  it  his  body,  and  then  it  was  his  body  indeed ; 
for  he  would  believe  Christ.  When  he  had  spoken  his 
pleasure  by  me,  thinking  to  have  condemned  me  by  their 
law,  I  said  he  had  not  judged  right  of  me:  for  I  had  not 
so  spoken,  but  did  believe  the  words  of  Christ  as  well  as 
he;  and  as  much  as  he  could  prove  by  the  word.  Then 
he  would  hear  what  I  did  say  it  was.  I  said  I  did  believe 
it  was  what  he  gave  them.  Then  he  asked  me,  what  was 
that  he  gave  them  ?  I  said,  that  which  he  brake.  He  asked 
me.  What  was  that  he  brake?  I  said.  That  he  took.  What 
was  it  that  he  did  take?  I  said,  The  text  saith,  he  took 
bread.  Well  then,  thou  sayest  it  was  but  bread  that  his 
disciples  did  eat,  by  thy  reason.  I  said.  Thus  much  I 
say,  Look  what  he  gave  them,  they  did  eat  it  indeed.  Why 
then  was  not  that  his  body  that  they  did  eat  ?  It  was  that 
which  he  brake.  Well  said  he,  '  I  perceive  thy  meaning 
well  enough:  for  thou  dost  think  it  but  bread  still,  and  that 
he  was  not  able  to  make  it  his  body.'  "  That  is  your  ex- 
position upon  my  mind." 

After  this  the  archdeacon  thought  to  establish  his  grand 
point  of  transubstantiation  by  an  example  from  the  Old  Tes- 
tament. "Then  he  began  with  Moses'  rod,  how  God  com- 
manded him  to  lay  it  down,  and  it  was  turned  into  a  ser- 
pent. Seeing  that  this  was  done  by  Moses,  being  but  a 
man,  how  much  more  Christ,  being  both  God  and  man, 
took  one  thing  and  gave  to  his  disciples  another.  I  said, 
his  comparison  was  nothing  like;  for  Moses'  rod,  when  it 
was  laid  down,  he  saw  that  it  was  turned  into  a  very  ser- 
pent indeed :  but  in  this  sacrament,  no  man  can  see  either 
quality  or  yet  quantity  to  be  changed.  Then  said  the 
bishop,  that  mine  opinion  and  faith  was  like  unto  the  Caper- 
naites.  I  said  theirs  was  more  like  their  opinion  than 
mine." 


220  .MATTHEW    PLAISE 

It  is  interesting  and  important  to  observe  how  firmly  even 
tlie  poorest  and  most  ignorant  of  tlie  people  maintained 
their  ground,  in  opposition  to  the  monstrous  doctrine  so 
strenuously  insisted  upon  in  the  Romish  church.  In  the 
great  majority  of  cases,  our  martyrs  suffered  chiefly  for 
that  point:  often  for  that  alone.  In  our  day,  an  extraordi- 
nary opinion  has  been  broached  by  a  new  sect  in  the  church, 
which  has  sprung  up  where  Ridley  and  Latimer  suffered, 
but  certainly  not  from  any  seed  of  their  sowing.  This  no- 
tion is,  that  in  the  controversy  with  Romanism  we  are  not 
to  touch  on  the  point  of  transubstantiation,  lest  peradven- 
ture,  we  be  led  to  speak  too  lightly  or  irreverently  of  the 
sacramental  ordinance.  Our  blessed  reformers  thought 
otherwise ;  and  we  shall  do  well  to  take  heed  that  we  be 
not  beguiled  from  following  in  their  steps.  To  shrink  from 
approaching  the  subject,  is  to  invest  it  with  a  character  that 
belongs  not  to  it,  any  more  than  to  the  other  sacrament  of 
baptism;  and  such  restraint  would  lead  to  two  evils,  both  of 
the  broadest  complexion  of  popery:  it  would  leave  the  mat- 
ter in  the  hands  of  the  priesthood,  as  though  the  laity  had 
nothing  to  do  but  to  yield  a  blind  assent  to  ecclesiastical 
dicta;  and  it  would  gradually,  but  effectually,  enwrap  the 
element  itself  in  that  mystification  which  is  supposed  to  rest 
like  a  cloud  upon  the  Romish  pix,  where,  enveloped  in  some 
consecrated  napkin,  as  too  holy  for  profane  eyes  to  behold, 
lies  the  wafer  divinity  of  the  apostate  church.  With  due 
reverence  let  us  treat  all  holy  things; — and  all  God's  ordi- 
nances are,  like  his  blessed  word,  most  holy:  but  with  no 
such  scrupulosity  need  we  draw  back  from  investigating, 
handling,  dissecting,  and  exposing  the  most  impious  inven- 
tion that  ever  was  coined  to  desecrate  what  God  has  sanc- 
tified and  to  render  the  most  touching  memorial  of  our  Sa- 
viour's everlasting  love  to  his  church,  an  abomination. 


CHAPTER    XI. 


RICHARD  WOODMAN. 


How  well  the  good  soldiers  of  Christ  endured  hardness  in 
these  days  of  the  church's  great  conflict,  we  have  in  many 
instances  seen :  another  follows,  inferior  to  none  in  the  mani- 


RICHARD    WOODMAN.  221 

festation  of  such  powerful  faith,  such  an  earnest  contending 
for  the  truth,  and  such  a  gifl  of  utterance  conferred  on  an 
unlearned  man,  brought  before  rulers  for  Christ's  sake,  as 
God  alone  can  bestow. 

Richard  Woodman  was  an  iron-worker,  dwelling  at 
Warbleton,  in  Sussex,  and  at  the  time  of  his  apprehension 
about  thirty  years  of  age.     The  curate  of  his  parish,  one 
Fairbanke,  had   taken   a  wife,  and   throughout  King   Ed- 
ward's days  he  preached  the  true  doctrine,  greatly  persua- 
ding the   people  never  to  give  heed  to   any  other.     In  the 
very  beginning  of  Mary's  reign  he  veered  about,  and  taught 
his  flock  just  the  contrary  to  what  he  had  aforetime  pro- 
claimed.    Richard  Woodman,  hearing  him  thus  belie  the 
truth,  admonished  him  of  his  inconstancy,  and  for  so  doing 
was  forthwith  apprehended,  and  committed  to  the  King's 
Bench,  where  he  remained  a  year  and  a  half.     Thence,  by 
Dr.  Story,  he  was  transferred  to  Bonner's  coal-house,  and 
kept  there  a  month,  after  which   he  underwent  twenty-six 
examinations,  and   was  expecting  the  stake,  when,  on  the 
day  that  the  noble  martyr,  Philpot,  was  burned,  he,  with 
four  others,  was  suddenly  set  at  liberty.     His  notice  of  this 
is  given  in  language  equally  severe  and  just;  highly  expres- 
sive of  the  indignation  and  abhorrence  excited  in  the  minds 
of  God's  people  by  the  murder  of  that  holy  man.     After 
saying  that  Bonner  sent   for  them  and  discharged  them, 
only  requiring  them  very  earnestly  to  speak  well  of  him, 
Woodman  goes  on  :  "  And   no  doubt  he  was  worthy  to  be 
praised,  because  he  had  been  so  faithful  an  aid  in  his  mas- 
ter the  devil's  business:  for  he  had  burnt  good  master  Phil- 
pot  the  same  morning,  with   whose  blood  his  heart  was  so 
drunken,  as  I  supposed,  that  he  could  not  tell  what  he  did, 
as  it  appeared  to  us  both  before  and  after.     For  but  two 
days  before  he  promised  us  we  should  be  condemned  that 
same  day  that  we  were  delivered;   yea,   and   the  morrow 
after  he  had  delivered  us  he  sought  for  some  of  us  awain, 
yea,  and  that  earnestly.     He   waxed  dry  after  his  great 
drunkenness,  wherefore  he  is  likely  to  have  blood  to  drink 
in  hell,  as  he  is  worthy,  if  he  repent  it  not  with  speed.     The 
Lord  turn  all  their  hearts,  if  it  be  his  will!" 

Woodman  wrote  down  all  his  former  examinations;  but 
the  bishop  of  Chichester  got  hold  of  them,  and  either  con- 
cealed or  destroyed  them.  The  persecutors  then  proclaim- 
ed that  Woodman  had  recanted;  but  this  he  disproved,  by 
going  and  talking  so  openly,  from  parish  to  parish,  and 
19* 


222  KICHAKD    WOODMAN. 

among  the  principal  people  too,  that  it  was  resolved  to  ap. 
prehend  him  again  immediately.  They  forged  a  charge 
against  him  of  usurping  the  office  of  the  ministry,  in  bap- 
tizing and  marrying  persons,  from  which  he  so  fully  clear- 
ed himself,  that  they  could  not  even  execute  on  him  the 
warrants  already  drawn  up.  However,  they  soon  issued 
others,  and  the  queen's  chamberlain  sent  three  of  his  men 
to  take  him,  while  ploughing  his  land.  These  men  being 
friends  of  Woodman's,  he  had  no  suspicion  of  them,  and  so 
was  easily  arrested;  but  going  home  to  change  his  appa- 
rel, it  occurred  to  him  to  demand  a  sight  of  their  warrant, 
when  they  confessed  having  none  with  them  ;  and  he,  plead- 
ing the  right  of  an  Englishman,  refused  to  go  with  them 
unless  they  produced  one.  They  locked  him  into  his  house, 
and  guarded  the  door,  while  one  went  to  fetch  a  warrant; 
and  he,  profiting  by  the  opportunity,  escaped  from  the  rear 
of  the  dwelling. 

Of  course,  a  strict  search  was  set  on  foot,  which  Wood- 
man eluded  by  taking  up  his  abode  under  the  trees  in  a 
thick  plantation,  within  a  bowshot  of  his  own  house:  here, 
with  his  bible,  pen,  and  ink,  he  contentedly  staid  six  or 
seven  weeks,  his  wife  daily  bringing  him  food.  "  I  thought 
myself  blessed  of  God,"  writes  this  simple  and  fervent  soul, 
"  that  I  was  counted  worthy  to  lie  in  the  woods  for  the 
name  of  Christ."  Meanwhile  the  seacoast,  from  Ports- 
mouth to  Dover,  was  guarded,  to  prevent  the  poor  man's 
escape;  but  failing  in  their  search,  they  gave  it  over,  con- 
cluding he  had  gone  abroad:  and  so  he  did,  when  they 
had  ceased  watching.  But  such  was  his  longing  for  his 
native  land,  that  he  says,  "  I  thought  every  day  seven 
years,  or  ever  I  were  at  home  again."  So  in  three  weeks 
he  returned,  and  notwithstanding  the  eager  hunt  the  enemy 
set  on  foot  after  him,  he  often  abode  for  a  month  or  five 
weeks  openly  in  his  own  house,  following  his  accustomed 
occupation.  His  enemies, as  he  remarks,  could  lay  no  hands 
on  him  till  the  hour  was  fully  come.  It  arrived  at  last,  and 
by  the  villany  of  his  own  father  and  brother  he  was  betrayed 
into  their  grasp.  Theoccasion  was  this:  Richard  Woodman 
had  entrusted  property,  of  the  value  of  filty  pounds  a  year, 
to  his  father  and  brother,  wherewith  to  pay  his  debts,  and 
to  maintain  his  wife  and  children.  They  wickedly  report- 
ed that  it  was  not  sufficient  for  the  former  purpose,  where- 
as it  was  more,  by  two  hundred  pounds,  than  all  his  debts 
amounted  to;  and  Woodman  anxious  to  do  justice,  applied 


RICHARD    WOODMAN,  223 

to  them  to  restore  the  money  and  writings,  and  to  come  to 
a  settlement  with  him.  A  day  was  appointed,  on  which 
a  full  reckoning  should  be  sent  in  to  him,  with  the  balance; 
and  to  avoid  this  restitution,  the  wretched  brother  went  and 
apprized  his  enemies,  that  at  such  a  time  they  might  cer- 
tainly seize  him  in  his  own  house.  The  sheriff  according- 
ly sent  a  strong  parly  of  men,  who  concealed  themselves 
all  the  night  in  bushes  near  the  dwelling.  A  workman  in 
Woodman's  employ,  and  two  of  his  little  children,  falling 
in  with  them  were  detained,  lest  they  should  give  the  alarm; 
and  in  the  forenoon,  while  the  poor  man  was  reclining  on  a 
bed,  making  shoe-thongs,  his  little  girl  who  saw  them  ap- 
proaching, ran  into  the  room  crying  out,  "Mother,  mother, 
yonder  cometh  twenty  men."  Woodman  started  up,  and 
thought  to  have  slipped  out  of  the  door,  but  they  were  too 
near,  and  his  wife  instantly  shut  and  bolted  it,  while  he  did 
the  same  by  another  door.  The  house  was  immediately 
surrounded,  the  officers  calling  out  to  have  the  doors  open- 
ed, or  they  would  break  in. 

Woodman's  house  had  been  searched  at  least  twenty 
times,  by  night  and  by  day,  sometimes  with  nearly  a  score 
of  men  at  once  examining  it.  There  was,  however,  a 
place  which  they  had  never  been  able  to  discover,  being 
formed  for  concealment:  into  this  he  went,  while  his  wife, 
knowing  him  to  be  now  safe,  opened  the  door,  and  telling 
the  men  he  was  not  there,  excused  herself  for  having  bar- 
red it,  on  the  ground  of  having  often  been  frightened  by 
the  men  sent  to  search,  and  also  supposing  that  the  dis- 
pleasure against  her  husband  extended  to  her  and  her  chil- 
dren. They  demanded  a  candle,  saying  there  were  many 
secret  places  in  the  house;  and  after  a  most  minute  search 
they  gave  over,  some  of  the  party  going  down  to  the  church- 
yard, where  they  stood  talking  with  the  unnatural  father  of 
the  persecuted  man.  The  conductor  of  these  officers  was 
a  next  door  neighbour,  and  particular  friend  of  Richard 
Woodman's,  who  had  been  persuaded  by  his  wicked  bro- 
ther thus  to  betray  him.  He  knew  of  the  hiding-place, 
which  his  friend  had  often  mentioned  to  him  in  confidence; 
but  it  happened  that  he  had  never  shown  him  the  way  to 
it,  only  that  the  entrance  was  over  a  window  in  the  hall. 
On  this  they  renewed  the  search,  and  one  spied  a  little  loft 
with  three  or  four  chests  in  it,  between  two  of  which  the 
entrance  really  lay;  but  as  they  could  not  discover  it,  they 
insisted  on  his  wife  pointing  it  out.     She  misled  them  to  an- 


224  RICHARD   WOODMAN. 

Other  quarter,  then  gave  Woodman  a  token  to  escape,  by 
which  he  supposed  there  was  no  further  hope  of  his  lying 
concealed.  He  could  not  descend  into  the  house  without 
coming  into  the  midst  of  them;  and  his  only  resource  was 
to  break  out  through  a  boarding,  which  he  did  by  setting 
his  shoulders  against  it;  but  unhappily  the  noise  occasion- 
ed by  this  attracted  their  attention,  and  caused  them  to 
look  out  at  a  window,  just  as  he  jumped  down  to  escape. 

Poor  Woodman  had  not  found  time  to  put  on  his  shoes, 
when  the  alarm  was  first  given  by  his  child:  he  had  now 
to  run  along  a  lane  strewn  wiih  sharp  cinders,  while  a 
shout  was  raised,  and  a  pursuit  commenced  with  cries  of 
"  Strike  him,  strike  him."  He  looked  backed  and  saw 
only  one  man  within  a  hundred  yards  of  him;  and  had  he 
been  shod,  he  might  have  got  easily  away,  being  strong, 
swift,  and  courageous;  but  just  then  his  naked  foot  came 
upon  a  hard  pointed  cinder,  and  starting  from  it,  he  step- 
ped into  a  hole  full  of  mire,  which  threw  him  down.  Be- 
fore he  could  recover  himself,  the  pursuer,  a  very  power- 
ful man,  came  upon  him,  and  he  was  taken.  On  this  he 
remarks,  "  It  was  not  God's  will ;  for  if  it  had  been,  I  should 
have  escaped  from  them  all,  if  there  had  been  ten  thousand 
of  them."  While  they  were  conducting  him  to  his  home, 
to  put  on  his  shoes,  and  complete  his  dress,  one  of  them 
scoffingly  said,  "Now  your  Master  hath  deceived  you; 
you  said  you  were  an  angel ;  and  if  so  why  did  you  not 
flee  away  from  us?"  He  asked  who  had  ever  heard  him 
say  he  was  an  angel?  "  It  is  not,"  he  added,  "  the  first  lie 
by  a  thousand  that  they  have  made  of  me.  Angels  were 
never  of  mortal  birth;  but  if  they  had  said  they  heard  me 
say  I  do  trust  I  am  a  saint,  they  had  not  said  amiss." 
"What!  do  you  think  to  be  a  saint?"  asked  the  other. 
"  Yea,  that  I  do,  and  am  already  in  God's  sight,  1  trust  in 
God ;  for  he  that  is  not  a  saint  in  God's  sight  already,  is  a 
devil.  Therefore,  he  that  thinketh  scorn  to  be  a  saint,  let 
him  be  a  devil." 

At  his  own  door  he  met  his  father,  who  desired  him  to 
remember  himself;  meaning  to  consider  the  consequences 
of  persisting  in  his  religious  faith:  to  whom  Woodman  an- 
swered, "  I  praise  God,  I  am  well  remembered  whereabout 
I  go.  This  way  was  appointed  of  God  for  me  to  be  deliv- 
ed  into  the  hands  of  mine  enemies,  but  woe  to  him  by  whom 
I  am  betrayed !  It  would  be  good  for  that  man  he  had  never 
been  born,  if  he  repent  not  with  speed.     The  scriptures  are 


RICHARD    WOODMAN.  225 

now  fulfilled  on  me ;  '  For  the  father  shall  be  against  the  son  ; 
and  the  brother  shall  deliver  the  brother  to  death,'  as  it  is 
this  day  come  to  pass."  One  of  the  men  remarked  that 
he  was  a  good  chilil  to  accuse  his  father:  he  answered,  "  I 
accuse  him  not,  but  say  my  mind ;  tor  there  was  no  man 
knew  me  to  be  at  home  but  my  father,  my  brother,  and 
one  more;  the  which  I  dare  say  would  not  hurt  me  for  all 
the  good  in  this  town."  After  some  further  talk,  and  cruel- 
ly refusing  to  let  him  even  enter  the  door  of  his  house,  at 
which  he  was  obliged  to  put  on  his  shoes  and  the  rest  of  his 
clothes,  they  bound  him  by  putting  a  hound's  slip  over  his 
arms  :  which,  he  says,  rejoiced  his  heart,  that  he  was  count- 
ed worthy  to  be  bound  for  the  name  of  God.  He  then  took 
leave  of  his  poor  wife,  his  children,  and  his  wretched  fa- 
ther, and  was  led  away. 

On  the  12th  of  April,  the  sheriffs  sent  him  to  London, 
where,  two  days  after,  he  was  brought  before  his  ordinary, 
the  bishop  of  Chichester,  to  whom  he  had  appealed,  Story, 
Cook,  and  others  for  examination.  The  bishop  told  him 
he  was  sorry  for  him,  and  so  were  all  the  gentlemen  of 
his  country:  where  he  had  a  good  report  among  rich  and 
poor.  Wherefore  he  wished  him  to  consider  himself, 
his  family  and  friends:  not  to  think  himself  wiser  than  all 
the  realm;  but  to  receive  instruction.  Woodman  disclaim- 
ed any  wish  to  seem  wiser  than  others,  being  willing  to 
learn  of  any  man  who  could  or  would  teach  him  the  truth. 
"  For  my  wife  and  children,  God  doth  know  how  I  love 
them  in  him,  and  my  life  also.  My  life,  my  wife,  and  my 
children  are  all  in  God's  hands,  and  I  have  them  all  as 
though  I  had  not,  I  trust,  according  to  St.  Paul's  words. 
But  if  I  had  ten  thousand  pounds  of  gold,  I  had  rather  fore- 
go it  all  than  them,  if  I  might  be  in  choice,  and  not  dis- 
please God."  He  then  told  Chichester  that  he  had  appeal- 
ed to  him,  that  if  any  fault  was  found  in  him,  he  might  be 
reformed  at  his  hands:  and  also,  that  if  his  blood  was  shed 
unrighteously,  it  might  be  required  at  his  hands,  who  had 
undertaken  to  be  the  physician  of  that  part  of  the  country. 
On  this  Story  broke  in  as  usual,  saying,  "Is  not  this  a  per- 
verse fellow,  to  lay  to  your  charge  that  his  blood  shall  be 
required  at  your  hands.  Thinkest  thou  that  thou  shalt  be 
put  to  death  unjustly,  that  thy  blood  shall  be  required?  No, 
if  he  should  condemn  a  hundred  such  heretics  as  thou  art. 
I  helped  to  rid  a  good  sort  of  you  :  and  I  promise  thee  I  will 
help  to  rid  thee  too,  the  best  that  I  can."    Woodman  would 


226  RICHARD    WOODMAN. 

have  replied;  but  Chichester  enjoined  them  both  to  be  si- 
lent; and  then  kindly  addressing  Woodman,  calling  him 
neighbour,  told  him  that  he,  as  his  spiritual  pastor,  was 
about  to  give  him  spiritual  counsel :  therefore  he  must  list- 
en to  him.  Woodman  begged  first  to  ask  him  a  question; 
which  was,  whether  he  was  sure  that  he  had  the  Spirit  of 
God.  The  bishop  said  no;  swearing  by  St.  Mary  that  he 
dared  not  be  so  bold  as  to  say  so.  Then  Woodman  told  him 
he  was  like  the  waves  of  the  sea,  unstable;  and  threatened 
him  with  the  doom  of  the  Laodicean  church ;  which  put 
Story  into  a  great  rage,  who  stormed  at  him,  saying  he  had 
the  devil  within  him,  and  was  mad;  and  that  he  was  worse 
than  Satan  ;  and  so  forth  :  while  Chichester  remarked  that 
the  man  was  sent  to  him  to  learn,  but  took  upon  him  to 
teach  him.  The  poor  fellow  on  seeing  their  blindness, 
burst  into  tears  and  said,  "  The  Jews  said  to  Christ  he  had 
a  devil,  and  was  mad,  as  ye  have  said  here  by  me :  but  I 
know  the  servant  is  not  above  his  Master.  And  God  for- 
bid that  I  should  learn  of  him  that  confesseth  that  he  hath 
not  the  Spirit  of  God,"  "  Why,"  said  the  bishop,  "do  you 
think  that  you  have  the  Spirit  of  God?"  "  I  believe  verily 
that  I  have  the  Spirit  of  God,"  was  the  reply.  Chichester 
observed,  "  You  boast  more  than  ever  Paul  did,  or  any  of 
the  apostles  ;  the  which  is  great  presumption."  Woodman 
answered,  "  I  boast  not  in  myself,  but  in  the  gift  of  God, 
as  Paul  did;  for  he  said  he  believed  verily  that  he  had  the 
Spirit  of  God;  making  no  doubts,  in  1  Cor.  vii."  "  It  is 
not  so,"  says  the  bishop  ;  "  you  belie  the  text."  "  If  it  be 
not  so,  let  me  be  burned  to-morrow."  Story  said,  "  Thou 
shalt  not  be  burned  to-morrow,  but  thou  shalt  be  burned 
within  these  six  days,  I  promise  thee."  Chichester  next 
qualified  his  denial  of  the  quotation,  by  saying  that  if  it 
was  so,  it  was  wrong  translated ;  as  it  was,  he  said,  in  a 
thousand  places  more.  They  then  consulted  the  Latin  and 
Greek  versions,  and  told  him  that  in  both  Paul  said  he  sup- 
posed he  had  the  Spirit  of  God,  but  was  not  sure:  the  bish- 
op adding,  "  Even  so  I  hope  and  suppose  that  I  have  the 
Spirit  of  God,  but  I  am  not  sure." 

Woodman  said,  if  men  had  translated  the  Bible  wrong, 
woe  unto  such  false  translators!  However,  he  warned 
them  to  beware  that  they  did  not  slander  the  translators, 
whom  he  believed  to  have  had  the  fear  of  God  before  their 
eyes.  He  olTered  to  prove,  by  places  enough,  besides  the 
one  quoted,  that  Paul  had  the  Spirit  of  God;  as  he  himself, 


RICHARD    WOODMAN.  227 

and  all  the  elect,  had.  This  he  did  by  citing,  "  No  man 
can  believe  that  Jesus  is  the  Lord,  but  by  the  Holy  Ghost," 
and  went  on :  "I  do  believe  that  Jesus  Christ  is  my  Re- 
deemer, and  that  I  shall  be  saved  from  all  my  sins  by  his 
death  and  blood-shedding,  as  Paul  and  all  the  apostles  did, 
and  as  all  faithful  people  ought  to  do,  which  no  man  can 
do  without  the  Spirit  of  God  ;  and  as  there  is  no  damnation 
to  them  that  are  in  Christ  Jesus,  so  there  is  no  salvation  to 
them  that  are  not  in  Christ  Jesus:  for  '  He  that  halh  not 
the  Spirit  of  Christ  is  none  of  his,'  but  is  a  cast-away.  And 
again:  'We  have  not  received  the  Spirit  of  bondage,  to 
fear  any  one;  but  we  have  received  the  Spirit  of  adoption, 
whereby  we  cry  Abba,  Father.  The  same  Spirit  certifieth 
our  spirits  that  we  are  the  sons  of  God,'  Besides  all  this, 
St.  John  saith, '  He  that  believeth  in  God,  dwelleth  in  God, 
and  God  in  him.'  So  it  is  impossible  to  believe  in  God, 
unless  God  dwell  in  us.  Oh,  good  God  !  what  more  inju- 
ry can  be  done  unto  thee  than  to  mistrust  that  we  have 
received  thy  Holy  Spirit  by  thy  gift?  Thus  may  all  men 
see  their  blindness,  and  whose  servants  they  be,  as  they  do 
declare  themselves  both  by  their  words  and  deeds." 

Here  Dr.  Story  cried  out,  "  Oh  my  lord,  what  a  heretic 
is  this  same  !  Why  do  you  hear  him?  Send  him  to  prison 
to  his  fellows  in  the  Marshalsea,  and  they  shall  be  dis- 
patched within  these  twelve  days."  "  When  I  heard  him 
say  so,"  writes  Woodman,  from  whose  recital  of  his  last 
examinations  this  account  is  taken,  "  I  rejoiced  greatly  in 
my  heart,  desiring  God,  if  it  were  his  will,  to  keep  him  in 
that  mind :  for  I  looked  surely  to  have  gone  to  the  bishop  of 
London's  coal-house,  or  to  Lollards'  tower;  but  it  pleased 
God  to  put  it  in  their  hearts  to  send  me  to  the  Marshalsea, 
amongst  our  brethren,  and  my  old  prison  fellows,  so  mer- 
cifully hath  God  dealt  with  me,  in  easing  me  of  my  burden 
that  I  looked  for,"  They  observed  his  satisfaction,  and 
the  bishop  said,  "  Methinkshe  is  not  afraid  of  the  prison:" 
to  which  Woodman  replied,  "  No,  I  thank  the  living  God," 
This  again  roused  Story's  savage  spirit,  who  said,  "  This 
is  an  heretic  indeed  :  he  hath  the  right  terms  of  all  here- 
tics. The  living  God!  I  pray  you  be  there  dead  gods, 
that  you  say  the  living  God?"  Woodman  mildly  replied, 
"  Be  you  angry  with  me  because  I  speak  the  words  which 
are  written  in  the  Bible?"  "  Bibble-babble,  bibble-babble," 
quoth  the  dignified  divine,  "  What  speakest  thou  of  the 
Bible  ?     There  is  no  such  word  written  in  all  the  Bible. 


228  KICHARD    WOODMAN. 

"  Then  I  am  much  to  blame  if  it  be  not  so  written,"  said 
Woodman,  and  quoted  texts  in  support  of  his  assertion. 
Chichester  owned  it  was  so  written,  and  that  it  was  the 
truth;  but  added,  that  such  was  the  speech  of  all  heretics. 
He  was  supported  by  Story,  who  sagely  said,  "  My  lord,  I 
will  tell  you  how  you  shall  know  a  heretic  by  his  words, 
because  1  have  been  more  used  to  them  than  you  have  been ; 
that  is,  they  will  say,  '  The  Lord,'  and  '  We  praise  God,' 
and  '  The  living  God.'  By  these  words  you  shall  know  a 
heretic,"  "  All  these  words,"  returned  Woodman,  "  are 
written  lor  our  learning,  and  we  are  commanded  of  the  pro- 
phets to  use  them  daily,  as  thus:  'The  Lord's  name  be 
praised,  from  the  rising  up  of  the  sun  even  to  the  going 
down  of  the  same.'  Also:  '  As  many  as  fear  the  Lord  say 
always.  The  Lord  be  praised.' "  After  a  little  more  rail- 
ing. Dr.  Story  went  off  to  mass;  and  then  the  bishop  said 
to  Woodman,  "  I  would  not  have  you  use  such  speeches 
as  you  do,  as  '  the  Lord  be  praised,'  and  '  the  living  God,' 
with  such  like  words.  Can  you  not  say  as  well,  our 
Lord,  or  our  God,  as  otherwise  1"  Woodman,  after  de- 
claring that  he  did  not  see  how  he  could  deserve  to  be  cen- 
sured for  using  the  plain  language  of  Scripture,  added,  "  It 
seemeth  to  me  that  you  mistrust  that  I  believe  not  as  you 
do."  "  Yea,  that  is  my  meaning  indeed,"  said  the  bishop. 
•'  I  believe  in  the  living  God,"  repeated  Woodman;  "  if  you 
do  not  so,  then  our  belief  is  not  alike,  indeed.  But  if  it 
please  you  to  examine  me  on  any  particular  matter  now, 
or  at  any  other  time,  I  will  make  you  answer  thereto.,  by 
God's  help."  The  bishop  then  charged  them  with  erring 
from  the  church,  and  in  proof  of  it  showed  him  a  great 
bundle  of  writings,  which  Woodman  immediately  saw  and 
acknowledged  to  be  his  own,  privily  stolen  from  his  house 
by  the  sheriff's  men.  They  contained  his  examinations 
and  discussions  during  his  former  imprisonment,  and  he 
expressed  his  gladness  that  the  bishop  might  now  see,  under 
his  own  hand,  a  full  statement  both  of  what  had  been  said 
and  what  had  been  done  against  him,  referring  him  to  the 
parties  named  there  for  a  confirmation  of  its  truth.  Then 
followed  a  very  long  conversation,  in  which  the  bishop 
manifested  a  spirit  so  different  from  that  of  his  brethren  in 
general,  that  if  he  was  sincere  in  it,  his  mind  must  have 
been  ill  at  ease  under  the  burden  of  such  companionship  in 
evil.  Gently,  kindly,  and  candidly  he  both  spoke  and  lis- 
tened, as  one  who  was  far  from  desiring  to  turn  away  his 


RICHARD    WOODMAN.  229 

ears  frotn  the  truth  ;  and  even  admitted,  with  evident  satis- 
faction, Woodman's  refutation  of  all  the  false  charges 
against  him.  Having  cleared  himself,  the  martyr  thus 
spoke :  "  Wherefore  look  ye  to  it,  for  I  am  now  in  your 
hands,  and  you  ought  to  be  a  house  of  defence  against  mine 
enemies ;  for  if  you  suffer  them  to  kill  me,  my  blood  shall 
be  required  at  your  hands.  If  you  can  find  any  just  cause 
in  me  worthy  of  death  by  God's  word,  you  may  condemn 
me  yourself,  and  not  offend  God :  wherefore  look  to  it;  the 
matter  is  weighty;  deliver  me  not  into  their  hands,  and  look 
to  be  so  discharged."  Chichester  told  him  he  was  not  yet 
fully  invested  with  the  authority  of  his  office,  but  he  would 
do  what  he  could  for  him.  They  then  entered  on  the  ques- 
tion, whether  or  no  St.  Paul  was  married,  and  Woodman 
proved  that  he  was  not :  speaking  also  very  fully  on  the 
subject,  and  in  a  way  that  seemed  greatly  to  please  the 
bishop,  who  said  he  was  very  glad  to  have  heard  him  so 
speak,  and  repeated  warmly  his  assurance  of  a  sincere 
wish  to  serve  him.  Woodman  told  him  he  was  willing  to 
renounce  any  thing  that  he  held,  which  could  be  proved 
contrary  to  God's  word.  "  And  the  truth  is,"  continued  he, 
"  I  have  talked  with  a  dozen  priests  at  the  least,  since  I 
was  delivered  out  of  prison,  of  certain  matters,  and  they 
have  not  been  able  to  certify  me  in  any  thing  that  I  have 
asked  them  ;  and  therefore  they  have  complained  of  me  to 
the  sheriff  and  justices,  making  tales  and  lies  on  me,  to 
turn  me  to  displeasure,  as  much  as  in  them  lieth.  I  pro- 
mise you,  there  be  as  many  unlearned  priests  in  your  dio- 
cese as  in  any  one  diocese  in  England,  I  think  :  the  more 
it  is  to  be  lamented."  The  bishop's  answer  was  greatly  to 
his  credit :  "  I  promise  you  I  do  much  lament  it  myself, 
for  I  hear  say  no  less ;  but  it  is  true  as  you  say.  I  would 
I  could  remedy  it,  but  I  cannot ;  but  I  will  do  the  best  that 
I  can  when  I  come  into  the  country:  and  I  will  be  glad  to 
talk  with  you  some  other  time,  when  I  shall  be  somewhat 
better  at  ease.  You  see,  I  am  very  tender  now,  as  I  have 
been  this  half  year  and  more.  Come  to  dinner;  our  dinner 
is  ready.  I  caused  you  not  to  tarry  for  any  great  cheer 
that  you  shall  have ;  nor  would  I  that  you  should  think  I 
go  about  to  win  you  with  my  meat :  but  you  be  welcome, 
with  all  my  heart :  come,  sit  down." 

How  unlike  to  Bonner  and  his  brother  ruffians  !  The 
Lord  gave  his  poor  faithful  servant  this  favour  in  the  sight 
of  one  to  whom  he  seemed  sent  with  a  message  of  admoni- 

MARTYROLOGY. VOL.  II.  20 


230  RICHARD    WOODMAN. 

tion  and  instruction.  After  partaking  of  a  plentiful 
meal  with  the  bishop,  a  merchant,  and  one  of  the  sheriff's 
officers  who  guarded  him,  he  was  told  by  the  bishop  that 
he  must  deliver  him  to  Story's  man,  but  that  he  would  soon 
send  for  him  again,  and  prayed  God  he  might  do  him  good. 
Woodman  begged  that  he  might  have  nothing  to  do  with 
Story,  requesting  the  bishop  to  examine  him  himself;  and 
then  they  began  on  the  subject  of  the  sacraments,  when  he 
would  acknowledge  only  two ;  and  the  bishop  engaging  to 
convince  him  by  God's  word  that  there  were  seven,  kindly 
bade  him  farewell.  Thus  does  the  bold  and  faithful  Pro- 
testant conclude  this  part  of  his  narrative  :  "  And  so  1  was 
brought  to  the  Marshalsea,  where  I  now  am  merry — God 
be  praised  therefore! — looking  for  judgment  of  my  flesh, 
for  they  intend  to  dispatch  me  shortly,  if  God  will  give 
them  leave :  but  God  hath  their  hearts  in  his  hand,  and 
they  can  do  nothing  to  me  but  as  God  will  give  them  leave. 
Wherefore  I  commit  my  cause  to  God  only,  and  I  am  sure 
there  shall  not  one  hair  of  my  head  perish  without  my 
heavenly  Father's  will,  although  I  bide  never  so  much 
trouble.  Job  perished  not  for  all  his  trouble,  though  God 
gave  the  devil  leave  to  trouble  and  try  him  divers  and  many 
ways,  as  God  hath  suffered  his  members  to  trouble  and  try 
me  divers  and  many  ways,  I  praise  God.  They  shall  as 
little  prevail  against  my  faith,  I  have  no  mistrust,  as  the 
devil  prevailed  against  Job,  whatsoever  they  do  with  my 
goods,  body,  or  life.  For  he  that  kept  Job  in  all  his  trou- 
ble neither  slumbereth  nor  sleepeth,  but  keepeth  me  and  all 
his  elect,  that  whether  we  live  or  die  it  shall  be  to  the  praise 
and  glory  of  God.  For  if  we  live,  we  live  at  the  Lord's 
will ;  and  if  we  die,  we  die  at  the  Lord's  will :  so  whether 
we  live  or  die  we  are  the  Lord's — blessed  be  his  name  there- 
fore !  Wherefore,  dear  brethren  and  sisters,  to  whom  this 
my  writing  shall  come,  be  of  good  cheer,  and  fear  not  what 
man  can  do  unto  you,  for  they  can  but  kill  the  body:  but 
fear  Him  that  hath  power  to  kill  both  body  and  soul.  And 
yet  once  again  I  bid  you  be  of  good  cheer,  for  the  sheriff, 
with  divers  other  gentlemen  and  priests,  when  I  was  at  the 
sheriff's  house,  said  to  me,  that  all  the  heretics  in  the 
country  hung  on  me,  as  the  people  did  in  times  past  upon 
St.  Augustine,  or  St.  Ambrose,  or  such  like.  Wherefore, 
said  they,  look  well  on  it ;  you  have  a  great  thing  to  an- 
swer for.  To  the  which  I  answered,  I  pray  God  lay  no- 
thing more  to  my  charge  than  he  will  do  for  heresy,  as  I 


RICHARD    WOODMAN.  231 

am  sure  he  will  not;  for  He  hath  set  my  sins  as  far  from 
me  as  it  is  from  the  east  to  the  west,  so  that  I  am  sure  they 
shall  never  come  near  me  any  more.  Yea,  and  that  they 
call  heresy,  we  serve  God  withal.  And  I  am  sure  there  is 
no  man  nor  woman  that  hangeth  on  me,  but  on  God.  But 
yet  that  is  their  imaginations  and  thoughts,  that  if  they 
might  win  me  to  them,  they  should  win  a  great  many  like- 
wise :  and  thinking  to  kill  me  if  they  cannot  win  me,  as  I 
trust  in  God  and  am  sure  they  shall  never,  by  God's  grace, 
if  it  were  possible  for  them  to  kilt  me  ten  times:  for  I  am 
so  linked  to  Christ  in  a  chain  by  faith,  that  it  is  impossible 
for  men  to  loose  us  asunder,  neither  for  life  nor  death,  I 
praise  my  Lord  God  therefore:  and  no  doubt  their  full  in- 
tent and  purpose  is  to  kill  me,  thinking  thereby  to  make 
other  afraid,  which  death  of  my  body  were  best  of  all  for 
me,  if  God  were  so  pleased.  But  if  I  may  live  for  the 
comfort  of  other,  His  name  be  praised  therefore.  I  know 
what  he  can  do,  but  what  he  will  do  I  know  not.  But  if 
death  be  offered  me,  so  that  I  cannot  refuse  it  without  dis- 
pleasing of  God,  I  trust  in  God  I  shall  not  offend  my  breth- 
ren in  receiving  of  death,  but  shall  be  rather  an  occasion 
of  strengthening  their  faith,  by  choosing  and  receiving  of 
it,  and  that  with  joy.  For  as  Christ  hath  given  his  life  for 
us,  so  ought  we  to  give  our  lives  for  the  defence  of  the  gos- 
pel, and  comfort  of  our  brethren.  And  whereas  the  bishop 
saith  he  will  prove  seven  sacraments,  be  you  out  of  doubt 
he  shall  never  be  able  to  do  it,  no  more  than  he  hath  pro- 
ved other  arguments  with  me  already.  Thus  fare  ye  well. 
From  the  Marshalsea,  where  I  now  am,  as  a  sheep  appoint- 
ed to  be  slain,  God  be  praised  therefore." 

Of  all  the  English  army  of  martyrs,  Richard  Woodman 
seems  the  most  to  have  resembled  Martin  Luther  in  the  cast 
of  his  natural  character,  and  the  peculiarity  of  his  spi- 
ritual gift.  This  will  appear  more  plainly  as  we  proceed 
in  the  story,  and  find  him  applying  the  hammer  of  God's 
word  to  the  hardened  iron  that  formed  the  sinews  of  his 
enemies'  necks,  with  as  much  force  and  as  little  ceremony 
as  he  was  wont  to  exercise,  when  working  the  metal,  in  the 
way  of  his  worldly  calling.  In  archdeacon  Philpot,  this 
boldness  of  speech,  and  energy  of  thought,  appeared  under 
the  polish  of  rank,  education,  learning,  and  ecclesiastical 
dignity:  in  Woodman  it  stands  forth  rough  and  unmiti- 
gated, save  by  the  subduing  influence  of  true  piety,  which, 
however,  in  his  case,  added  emphasis  to  the  impulse  of  holy 


232  RICHARD    WOODMAN, 

indignation,  when  he  looked  upon  those  whose  hearts  were 
really,  as  he  had  before  expressed  it,  made  drunit  by  the 
blood  of  the  saints  and  martyrs  of  Jesus ;  the  blood  of 
men  by  whom  he  had  been  taught  the  way  of  salvation, 
whose  dungeons  he  had  shared,  whose  sufferings  he  had  wit- 
nessed, and  the  smoke  of  whose  cruel  burning  had  hardly 
ceased  to  darken  and  infect  the  air.  Strong  must  have  been 
the  power  of  that  grace  which  withheld  from  bitter  revilings 
the  tongue  of  one  whose  natural  courage  shrunk  from  no- 
thing ;  and  who  was  so  keenly  sensible  of  the  wrongs  in- 
flicted on  his  murdered  pastors,  the  blasphemous  dishonour 
heaped  upon  the  name  of  his  God  !  Richard  Woodman,  the 
humble  ironmonger  of  Sussex,  made  more  than  one  mitred 
head  cower  beneath  his  righteous  rebukes;  and  forced  them 
to  wince  under  the  scornful  irony  that  touched  the  idola- 
trous priests  of  Baal  from  the  inspired  lip  of  Elijah.  We 
do  not  intend  to  soften  down  any  part  of  the  recital ;  but  to 
give  it,  with  as  few  curtailments  as  our  limits  will  allow,  in 
the  very  words  of  the  martyr. 

His  second  examination  was  in  the  bishop  of  Chiches- 
ter's house,  where  Story  sent  him.  He  returned  the  bish- 
op's courteous  greeting  with  the  most  respectful  salutation 
he  could  render;  at  the  same  time  thanking  him  for  his 
former  kindness  :  and  then  Chichester  begged  he  would  be 
brief  in  his  discourse,  as  the  length  of  their  former  conver- 
sation had  impaired  his  health.  The  seven  sacraments 
were  proposed ;  and  on  Woodman  denying  five,  and  re- 
quiring the  bishop  to  prove  them  by  scripture,  he  got  into 
a  great  fume,  swearing  in  a  very  coarse  and  shocking  man- 
ner ;  for  which  his  prisoner  reminded  him  that  he  was  not 
setting  a  right  example  to  the  flock.  Chichester  seems  to 
have  been  exposed  to  evil  influence  since  their  last  meet- 
ing :  for  when  Woodman  justified  his  rebuke  by  quoting 
the  command  to  reprove  an  offending  brother,  he  and  the 
priests  pronounced  him  past  cure ;  and  the  bishop  desired 
Dr.  Story  to  be  called,  as  he  would  talk  no  more  with  him: 
adding  that  the  company  of  his  fellows  in  the  Marshalsea 
had  made  him  worse  than  he  was:  for  before,  he  had  some 
hope  of  him.  After  some  more  hard  speeches,  the  bishop 
a  little  moderated  his  displeasure,  and  consented  to  pro- 
ceed in  the  matter  of  the  sacraments.  They  began  with 
matrimony,  where  Chichester  fortified  himself  with  the  word 
sacramentum  used  in  the  Latin  version;  and  Woodman 
holding  to  the  English  rendering,  '*  a  great  mystery,"  as 


RICHARD    WOODMAN.  233 

typifying  the  union  of  Christ  with  his  church,  showed,  very 
beautifully,  that  the  "  nnystery,"  or  unseen  thing,  was  the 
union  of  heart,  invisible  to  the  eye;  whereas  a  sacrament 
was  a  visible  sign.  He  asked  the  bisho]),  "  My  lord,  I 
pray  you  what  is  a  sacranrient?"  "  It  is  the  sign  of  a  holy 
thing,"  replied  the  bishop,  who  had  parried  his  last  argu- 
ment by  insisting  that  the  ceremony  being  seen,  and  the 
man  and  woman  also  seen,  it  was  not  an  invisible  mys- 
tery. Woodman,  then,  on  this  new  ground  of  the  bishop's 
choosing,  disproved  his  assertion,  saying,  "  There  need  not 
be  a  sign  of  a  holy  thing  where  the  holy  thing  itself  is. 
Matrimony  is  a  holy  thing  in  itself,  and  is  ended  outward- 
ly, and  needs  no  more  signs  but  themselves :  wherefore  it 
cannot  be  a  sacrament  as  others  be."  To  this  the  bishop 
returned  a  singularly  ridiculous  answer.  "  Lo,  now  you 
speak  against  yourself;  and  for  an  example,  I  came  by  an 
hosier's,  and  there  hangeth  a  pair  of  hose,  the  which  be 
hose,  and  be  the  sign  of  hose,  that  be  to  sell  within."  At 
this  the  priests  chuckled,  and  Woodman  answered  indig- 
nantly, he  wondered  they  were  not  ashamed  of  themselves. 
When  taunted  by  the  priests  for  being  angry,  he  replied, 
"  I  am  not  angry,  but  I  am  earnest,  I  tell  you,  to  see  your 
blindness  and  folly.  I  talked  of  the  scriptures  that  be 
written,  and  it  is  God's  word,  to  prove  my  matter  true  by; 
and  you  will  prove  your  matter  true  by  a  pair  of  hose. 
And  as  well  can  you  prove  it  by  that  as  by  God's  word." 
"  Why,"  said  a  priest,  "  is  there  nothing  true  but  what  is 
written  in  the  Bible?"  Woodman  replied,  "St.  Paul  saith 
to  the  Galatians,  '  If  an  angel  come  from  heaven  and  hold 
any  other  doctrine  than  may  be  proved  by  God's  word,  hold 
him  accursed  :'  and  so  do  I  tell  you  plainly."  The  priest 
resumed,  "  Here  is  a  Testament  in  my  hand  ;  if  I  hurl  him 
in  the  fire  and  burn  him,  have  I  burned  God's  word  or  no  ?  I 
will  buy  a  new  one  for  sixteenpence."  Woodman  answered, 
"  I  say  you  have  burned  God's  word  ;  he  that  would  burn 
a  Testament  willingly  would  burn  God  himself  if  he  were 
here,  if  he  could  :  for  he  and  his  word  are  all  one."  They 
made  a  great  jest  of  this ;  and  he  continued,  "  Laugh  on. 
Your  laughing  will  be  turned  to  weeping,  and  all  such  joy 
will  be  turned  to  mourning,  if  you  repent  not  with  speed." 
Chichester,  to  cover  the  folly  of  his  priests,  said,  "  Why, 
if  my  counting-house  were  full  of  books,  and  if  my  house 
were  on  fire  by  chance,  and  so  burned,  is  God's  word 
burned  V  "  No,  my  lord,  because  they  were  burned  against 
20* 


234  RICHARD    WOODMAN. 

your  will ;  but  yet  if  you  should  burn  them  willingly,  or 
think  it  well,  or  not  be  sorry  for  it,  you  burn  God's  word 
as  well  as  he.  For  he  that  is  not  sorry  for  a  shrewd  turn, 
doth  allow  it  to  be  good."  Chichester  remarking  that  he 
had  little  learning,  then  asked  him  what  St.  Paul  meant  by 
the  passage,  "  We  have  an  altar  whereof  you  may  not  eat." 
He  answered,  "  There  is  no  man  so  foolish  as  to  eat  stones, 
I  trow."  This  greatly  annoyed  the  bishop,  who  said  it 
was  a  plain  mock;  but  Woodman  reminded  him  he  had 
just  accused  him  of  having  no  learning  or  knowledge,  or 
understanding,  wherefore  he  ought  to  make  things  more 
plain  to  him,  and  not  ask  him  such  dark  questions,  and 
blame  him  too.  The  bishop  declared  the  greatest  fool  in 
his  house  would  understand  his  meaning;  and  calling  by 
his  name  a  servant  who  stood  a  little  way  off,  "  Come 
hither,  I  say  to  thee,  thou  shalt  not  eat  of  this  table.  What 
do  I  mean  thereby?"  "  Forsooth,  my  lord,  you  would  not 
have  me  eat  of  this  table,"  answered  the  man,  laying  his 
hand  on  it.  This  made  all  the  party  laugh  ;  including 
Woodman,  who  said,  "  He  hath  expounded  the  matter 
almost  as  well  as  I."  "He  meaneth  well  enough,"  said  the 
bishop,  "  if  you  would  understand  him.  Answer  me  again, 
to  make  it  more  plain.  I  say  thou  shalt  not  eat  of  this 
table.  What  mean  I  thereby?"  "Forsooth  you  would  not 
have  me  eat  this  table."  At  this  they  laughed  again;  and 
the  bishop,  almost  angry,  said,  "  He  meaneth  that  I  would 
not  have  him  eat  of  the  meat  that  is  set  upon  the  table. 
How  sayest  thou,  dost  thou  not  mean  so?"  The  man  re- 
plied, "  Yes,  forsooth,  my  lord,  that  was  my  meaning  in- 
deed :"  and  Woodman  observed  he  had  answered  accord- 
ing to  the  prompting ;  showing  that  he  could  have  replied 
to  the  first  question.  They  then  passed  on  to  the  sacra- 
ment of  the  altar;  Chichester  asking  what  he  said  to  it. 
He  replied,  "  You  mean  the  sacrament  of  the  body  and 
blood  of  Jesus  Christ?"  "  I  mean  the  sacrament  of  the 
altar,  and  so  I  say."  "  You  mean  Christ  to  be  the  altar, 
do  you  not?"  asked  Woodman  :  the  bishop  answered  again, 
"  I  mean  the  sacrament  of  the  altar  in  the  church.  What, 
is  it  so  strange  to  you?"  "  It  is  strange  to  me,  indeed,  if 
you  mean  the  altar  of  stone,"  returned  Woodman.  "  It  is 
that  altar  that  I  mean,"  said  the  bishop.  Woodman  re- 
marked that  he  understood  not  the  altar  so;  and  craving 
permission  to  show  his  belief,  brought  some  scriptures  to 
prove  that  Christ,  in  the  midst  of  his  assembled  people,  is 


RICHARD    WOODMAN.  236 

the  true  altar,  where  Christians,  at  peace  with  each  other 
and  all  the  world,  should  come  and  offer  their  gift  of  prayer 
to  God.  After  hearing  him  out,  Chichester  said,  "  Do  you 
understand  the  offering  and  the  altar  so  ?  I  never  heard  any 
man  understand  it  so;  no  not  Luther,  the  great  heretic,  that 
was  condemned,  by  a  general  council,  and  his  picture  burnt." 
To  which  Woodman  shrewdly  replied,  "  If  he  were  an  he- 
retic, I  think  he  understood  it  not  so  indeed  :  but  I  am  sure 
all  Christians  ought  to  understand  it  so."  The  bishop 
maintained  his  own  view;  which  was  quite  a  Jewish  one; 
and  when  Woodman  showed  him  so,  he  said,  "  Who  shall 
be  judge  betwixt  us  in  this  matter?"  Woodman  observed, 
"  The  twelfth  of  John  declareth  who  shall  be  judge  in  the 
last  day."  "  You  mean,"  said  Chichester,  "  the  word  shall 
judge  the  word.  How  can  that  be?"  Woodman  replied, 
"  St.  Peter  saith,  the  scripture  hath  no  private  interpreta- 
tion: but  one  scripture  must  be  understood  by  another." 
He  also  said,  "  The  true  church  of  God  is  able  to  discuss 
all  doubts:  to  whom  I  refer  it."  The  bishop  of  course,  took, 
this  as  an  admission  in  favour  of  his  false  church.  Wood- 
man asked  what  he  offered  up  on  his  altar?  he  said,  "  We 
offer  up  in  the  blessed  sacrament  of  ihe  altar,  the  body  of 
Christ  to  pacify  the  wrath  of  God  the  Father."  And  at  that 
they  all  put  off  their  caps  in  honour  of  the  idol.  Woodman 
proved,  from  Paul  to  the  Hebrews,  that  the  one  offering  of 
Christ  was  sufficient;  and  added,  "  As  far  as  I  can  see,  you 
be  priests  after  the  order  of  Aaron,  that  offered  up  sacrifice 
for  their  own  sins,  and  the  sins  of  the  people."  The  bishop 
said,  "  No ;  they  were  priests  after  the  order  of  Melchise- 
dec,  who  offered  bread  and  wine  in  remembrance,  to  signify 
the  giving  of  Christ's  body  in  bread  and  wine,  which  he,  at 
the  last  supper,  gave  to  his  disciples,  and  ordered  to  be  used 
to  the  end  of  the  world."  Woodman  liked  this  exposition: 
he  said  the  bishop  had  made  it  very  plain  to  him,  that  as 
Christ  was  the  end  of  all  sacrifice,  so  was  he  the  beginning 
of  the  sacraments,  willing  them  to  be  used  in  remembrance 
of  him  to  the  world's  end.  The  bishop,  however,  insisted 
on  more  than  a  remembrance;  on  transubstantiation :  but 
desired  him  to  be  brief.  Woodman  said,  "  My  lord,  if  you 
will  answer  me  to  one  sacrament  I  will  answer  you  to  an- 
other. If  you  say  the  words  of  baptism  over  the  water, 
and  there  be  no  child  there,  is  it  true  baptism?"  "No; 
there  must  be  the  water,  the  word,  and  the  child ;  and  then 
it  is  a  baptism."  "  Very  well,"  rejoined  Woodman  ;  "  then 


236  RICHARD    WOODMAN. 

if  a  child  be  baptized  in  the  name  of  the  Father  and  of  the 
Son,  it  is  not  truly  baptized."  "  No :  the  child  must  be 
baptized  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of 
the  Holy  Ghost,  or  else  it  is  not  truly  baptized."  "  Then, 
there  may  be  nothing  added  or  taken  away  from  the  sacra- 
ments, may  there  1"    "No,"  said  the  bishop. 

"  Now,  my  lord,  I  will  answer  to  you,  if  it  please  you." 
"Well,"  replied  the  bishop,  "  how  say  you  ?  'Take,  eat, 
this  is  my  body;'  is  it  not  Christ's  body  as  soon  as  the 
words  be  said?"  "My  lord,  replied  Woodman,  "I  will 
answer  you  by  your  own  words,  that  you  answered  me, 
which  is  true.  The  water,  the  word,  and  the  child,  all 
these  together  make  baptism :  the  bread,  the  wine,  and  the 
word,  make  the  sacrament;  and  the  eater,  eating  in  true 
faith,  maketh  it  his  body.  Here  I  prove  it  is  not  Christ's 
body  but  to  the  faithful  receiver.  For  he  saith,  '  Take,  eat, 
this  is  my  body.'  He  called  it  not  his  body  before  eating, 
but  after  eating.  And  St.  Augustine  saith,  '  Believe,  and 
thou  hast  eaten.'  And  St.  John  saith,  '  He  that  believeth 
in  God,  dwelleth  in  God,  and  God  in  him  :'  wherefore  it  is 
impossible  to  dwell  in  God,  and  to  eat  his  body,  without  a 
true  faith."  The  priest  said,  "  Then  the  faith  of  the  re- 
ceiver maketh  it  his  body,  and  not  his  word,  by  your  say- 
ing. I  pray  you,  what  did  Judas  eat?"  Woodman  replied, 
"  Judas  did  eat  the  sacrament  of  Christ,  and  the  devil 
withal."  "  He  did  eat  the  body  of  Christ  unworthily,  as 
St.  Paul  saith,"  returned  the  priest.  "  Nay,"  said  Wood- 
man, "  St.  Paul  sayeth  no  such  thing.  He  spake  not  of 
eating  his  body  unworthily,  but  of  the  sacrament  unwor- 
thily. For  he  saith,  '  Whosoever  eatelh  this  bread,  and 
drinketh  this  cup  unworthily,  eateth  and  drinketh  his  own 
damnation,  because  he  maketh  no  difference  of  the  Lord's 
body;' and  not  because  he  eateth  the  Lord's  body.  If  Judas 
did  eat  Christ's  body,  it  must  needs  follow  that  Judas  is 
saved ;  for  Christ  saith,  in  the  sixth  of  John,  '  Whosoever 
eateth  my  flesh,  and  drinketh  my  blood,  hath  eternal  life; 
and  I  will  raise  him  up  at  the  last  day.'  "  On  this,  the 
priest  and  bishop  agreed  that  it  was  lost  labour  to  talk  any 
more  with  him:  so  the  latter  demanded  a  final  answer  as 
to  his  belief  in  the  matter,  and  received  this  reply:  "  I  do 
believe  that  if  I  come  to  receive  the  sacrament  of  the  body 
and  blood  of  Christ  truly  ministered,  believing  that  Christ 
was  born  for  me,  and  that  he  sufl^ered  death  for  me,  and 
that  I  shall  be  eaved  from  my  sins  by  his  blood-shedding; 


RICHARD    WOODMAN.  237 

and  so  receive  the  sacrament  in  that  remembrance,  then  I 
do  believe  I  do  receive  wholly  Christ,  God  and  man,  mys- 
tically, by  faith:  this  is  my  belief."  Chichester  observed, 
"  Why,  then,  it  is  no  body  without  faith  ;  God's  word  is 
of  no  force,  as  you  count  it."  "  My  lord,"  he  replied,  "  I 
have  told  you  my  mind  without  dissimulation;  and  more 
you  get  not  of  me,  without  you  will  talk  with  me  by  the 
scriptures ;  and  if  you  will  not  do  so,  I  will  begin  anew 
with  you,  and  prove  it  more  plainly,  three  or  four  manner 
of  ways,  that  you  shall  not  say  nay  to  that  I  have  said, 
yourself." 

At  this  they  began  to  laugh  heartily,  saying  to  one  an- 
other, "  This  is  an  heretic  indeed:  it  is  time  he  were  burn- 
ed." Their  ridicule  and  malignity  moved  him  to  a  very 
severe  rebuke.  "  Judge  not,  lest  you  bejudged  :  for  as  you 
judge  me,  you  shall  be  judged  yourselves.  For  that  you  call 
heresy,  I  serve  God  truly  with,  as  you  all  shall  well  know, 
when  you  shall  be  in  hell,  and  shall  be  compelled  to  say, 
for  pain,  This  was  the  man  that  we  jested  on,  and  whose 
talk  we  thought  foolishness,  and  his  end  to  be  without 
honour:  but  now  we  may  see  how  he  is  counted  among  the 
saints  of  God,  and  we  are  punished.  These  words  shall 
you  say,  being  in  hell,  if  you  repent  not  with  speed,  if  you 
consent  to  the  shedding  of  my  blood:  wherefore  look  to  it, 
I  give  you  counsel."  The  priest  taxed  him  with  being 
angry;  and  went  on  to  repeat  some  words  that  he  had 
spoken  against  their  idols,  and  in  answer  to  Stephen  Gardi- 
ner. He  answered,  "  That  I  said,  I  said :  and  where  you 
said  I  was  angry,  I  take  God  to  my  record  I  am  not,  but 
am  zealous  in  the  truth,  and  speak  out  of  the  Spirit  of  God 
with  cheerfulness."  The  priest  mockingly  repeated,  "  The 
Spirit  of  God  ! — hough,  hough,  hough;  think  you  that  you 
have  the  Spirit  of  God?"  "  I  believe  surely,"  answered 
the  martyr,  "  that  I  have  the  Spirit  of  God,  I  praise  God 
therefore:  and  you  be  deceivers,  mockers,  and  scorners  be- 
fore God,  and  be  the  children  of  Satan,  all  the  sort  of  you, 
as  far  as  I  can  see.  Here  Story  came  in,  and  after  rail- 
ing as  usual,  advised  the  bishop  to  have  nothing  more  to 
do  with  him,  and  ordered  him  back  to  the  prison  without 
further  question.  When  they  were  all  gone  to  receive  a 
party  come  to  dine  with  the  bishop,  a  priest  began  to  flatter 
Woodman,  urging  him  to  recant ;  but  with  no  success  :  and 
after  a  few  words,  he  was  conducted  again  to  the  Marshal- 
sea, 


238  RICHARD    WOODMAN. 

Soon  after  this,  the  marshal  came  to  the  prison,  and 
questioned  Woodman  as  to  his  having  been  abroad  speak- 
ing seditious  words,  both  of  which  he  so  clearly  disproved, 
that  the  officer  owned  it  must  be  a  false  report ;  and  then 
took  him  away  for  another  examination,  to  lord  Montague's 
house,  in  Southwark,  where  Dr.  Langdale,  the  bishop's 
chaplain,  was  waiting  for  him.  A  very  long  conversation 
ensued  ;  which  Langdale  began,  by  charging  him  with  for- 
saking the  faith  of  his  fathers ;  and  so  forth.  Woodman 
answered  wisely  and  scripturally,  and  the  doctor  after  blam- 
ing him  for  quoting  the  Bible  too  much,  tried  by  the  assur- 
ance of  much  good  will  to  induce  him  to  speak  his  mind 
freely.  The  martyr,  in  a  strain  of  admirable  prudence, 
mingled  with  his  natural  frankness,  told  him  that  he  knew 
not  how  to  trust  his  fair  words,  when  he  could  not  trust 
his  own  father  and  brother,  and  others  who  had  been  his 
familiar  friends  :  that  Christ  had  bade  him  be  wise  as  the 
serpent,  and  as  innocent  as  the  dove,  and  also  to  take  heed 
of  men,  for  they  would  betray.  He  added,  that  the  doc- 
tor's dislike  to  his  quoting  scripture  made  him  suspect  him: 
therefore  he  must  not  be  angry  if  he  found  him  circumspect 
in  his  answers;  for,  said  he,  "  It  shall  not  be  said,  by  God's 
help,  that  I  run  wilfully  into  mine  enemies'  hands  ;  and  yet, 
I  praise  God,  my  life  is  not  dear  unto  myself;  but  it  is  dear 
with  God:  wherefore  I  will  do  to  the  uttermost  that  I  can 
to  keep  it."  Langdale  then  made  a  misstatement  of  what 
had  taken  place  before  Woodman's  last  apprehension,  which 
he  very  calmly  and  soberly  answered,  fully  showing  in  what 
he  had  been  wrongfully  charged.  He  was  next  taxed  with 
baptizing  his  child,  and  in  the  same  breath,  with  leaving 
it  unbaptized.  Woodman  indignantly  proved  the  utter 
falsehood  of  both  these  contradictory  tales:  and  referring 
to  some  part  of  Langdale's  speech,  where  he  had  mention- 
ed that  if  the  child  had  died  before  baptism  it  must  have 
been  eternally  lost,  he  asked  him,  "  How  think  you  ?  Be 
all  condemned  that  receive  not  the  outward  sign  of  baptism?" 
"  Yea,"  said  the  doctor,  "  that  they  be."  Woodman  ask- 
ed, "  How  prove  you  that?"  Langdale  replied,  by  repeat- 
ing our  Lord's  words  which  command  baptism,  assuring 
eternal  life  to  such  as  are  baptized  and  believe,  and  con- 
demnation to  them  that  believe  not.  "  Then,"  observed 
Woodman,  "by  your  saying  baptism  bringeth  faith;  and 
all  that  be  baptized  in  the  water  shall  be  saved  shall  they? 
Howsay  you?"     "  Yea,  that  they  shall,"  replied  the  doctor; 


RICHARD    WOODMAN,  239 

"  if  they  die  before  they  come  to  discretion,  they  should  be 
saved  everyone  of  them;  and  all  that  be  not  baptized, 
shall  be  damned,  every  one  of  them."  This  roused  the 
other,  who  exclaimed,  "  How  dare  you  speak  such  blas- 
phemy against  God  and  his  word,  as  you  do?  How  dare 
you  for  your  life  take  upon  you  to  preach,  and  teach  the 
people,  and  understand  not  what  you  say?  For  I  pro- 
test before  God  you  understand  not  the  scriptures,  but  as 
far  as  natural  reason  can  comprehend:  for  if  you  did,  you 
would  be  ashamed  to  speak  as  you  do."  Langdale  told 
him  to  take  heed,  for  he  had  a  toy  in  his  head  that  would 
make  him  despair;  and  asked  why  he  reproved  him  as  he 
did.  Woodman  answered,  "  Because  you  blaspheme  God :" 
and  then  challenged  him  to  prove  his  doctrine  by  scripture, 
which  made  the  other  turn  pale  and  tremble.  Woodman 
then  proceeded  to  show  that  the  perdition  threatened  was 
not  to  them  that  are  not  baptized,  but  to  such  as  believe 
not ;  adducing  the  words  of  St.  John,  "  He  that  believeth 
not  is  condemned  already,  because  he  believeth  not."  He 
went  on,  "  I  dare  not  say  for  all  the  goods  under  heaven, 
that  all  they  that  receive  no  material  baptism  by  the  water 
shall  be  condemned,  as  you  have  said:  yet  I  would 
you  should  not  gather  of  these  words  that  I  deny  baptism, 
as  you  were  about  to  lay  to  my  charge,  ere  ever  I  had 
half  told  out  my  tale.  But  I  would  not  have  you,  nor  any 
man,  so  rash  in  judgment,  to  condemn  the  thing  that  they 
are  not  able  to  disprove  by  the  word  ;  and  to  make  it  seem 
to  the  simple  that  the  outward  washing  of  the  water  were 
the  cause  of  faith."  "  Why,  is  it  not  so?"  said  Langdale  : 
"  will  you  deny  it?  how  say  you,  will  you  deny  it?  I  say 
the  child  hath  no  faith  before  it  is  baptized  ;  and  therefore 
the  baptizing  bringeth  the  faith.  How  say  you  to  it  ?  Make 
me  a  plain  answer  to  this  question."  "  Now,"  said  Wood- 
man, "  I  perceive  you  go  about  nothing  else  but  to  take  van- 
tage of  my  words.  But,  by  God's  help,  I  will  answer  you 
so  that  you  shall  well  see  your  sayings  untrue.  And  yet  I 
will  not  speak  mine  own  words,  but  the  words  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  out  of  the  mouth  of  the  prophets  and  apostles  ;  and 
then  ask  them  whether  they  will  deny  it."  He  then  ask- 
ed where  Jacob  was  baptized  before  he  had  faith  ;  alleging 
the  passage  that  speaks  of  his  election  before  his  birth :  but 
Langdale  parried  this,  as  it  was  before  the  institution  of 
baptism.  He  demanded  an  answer  to  his  former  question, 
observing,  that  Woodman  denied  original  sin,  and  freewill: 


240  RICHARD    WOODMAN. 

for,  said  he,  "  if  children  can  be  saved  without  baptism,  it 
must  needs  follow  that  children  have  no  original  sin  ;  the 
which  is  put  away  in  the  baptizing.  But  I  think  you  know 
not  what  original  sin  is,  or  free  will  either."  Woodman 
told  him,  he  thanked  God,  he  thought  he  could  tell  him 
better  than  he  could:  then  asked  him,  "  What  free  will  hath 
man  to  do  good  of  himself?"  Langdale  answered,  "  I  say 
that  all  men  have  as  much  free  will  as  Adam  had  before  the 
fall."  "  I  pray  you  how  prove  you  that  ?"  "  Thus  I  prove 
it,"  quoth  the  doctor,  "  that  as  sin  entered  into  the  world, 
and  by  the  nature  of  one  that  sinned  all  men  became  sin- 
ners, the  which  was  by  Adam  :  so  by  the  obedience  of  one 
man,  righteousness  came  upon  all  men  that  had  sinned, 
and  set  them  as  free  as  they  were  before  their  fail :  the 
which  was  by  Jesus  Christ.     See  Rom.  v." 

Woodman  exclaimed,  "  Oh,  what  an  overthrow  have 
you  given  yourself  here  in  original  sin,  and  yet  cannot  see 
it !  For,  in  proving  that  we  have  free  will,  you  have  quite 
denied  original  sin.  For  here  you  have  declared  that  we 
be  set  as  free  by  the  death  of  Christ,  as  Adam  was  before 
his  fall;  and  I  am  sure  that  Adam  had  no  original  sin  be- 
fore his  fall.  If  we  be  as  free  now,  as  he  was  then,  I  mar- 
vel wherefore  Paul  complained  thrice  to  God  to  take  away 
the  sting  of  it,  God  making  him  answer,  and  saying,  'My 
grace  is  sufficient  for  thee.'  These  words,  with  divers 
other,  prove  original  sin  in  us  ;  but  not  that  it  shall  hurt 
God's  elect  people,  for  his  grace  is  sufficient  for  all  his. 
But  you  say  in  one  place  that  it  is  not  without  baptism ; 
and  in  another  place  you  put  it  away  quite  by  the  death  of 
Christ ;  and  in  very  deed  you  have  spoken  truer  in  the  mat- 
ter than  you  are  aware  of  For  all  that  believe  in  Christ 
are  baptized  in  the  blood  of  Christ,  that  he  shed  on  the 
cross ;  and  in  the  water  that  he  sweat  for  pain,  and  putting 
away  of  our  sins  at  his  death.  And  yet  I  say  with  David, 
In  sin  was  I  born,  and  in  sin  hath  my  mother  conceived 
me :  but  in  no  such  sin  as  shall  be  imputed,  because  I  am 
born  of  God  by  faith,  as  St.  John  saith,  1  John  iii.  There- 
fore I  am  blessed,  as  sailh  the  prophet.  Psalm  .xxxii.  '  be- 
cause the  Lord  imputeth  not  my  sin,'  and  not  because  I 
have  no  sin ;  but  because  God  hath  not  imputed  my  sins. 
Not  of  our  own  deserving,  but  of  his  free  mercy,  he  hath 
saved  us.  Where  is  now  your  freewill  that  you  speak  of? 
If  we  have  free  will,  then  our  salvation  cometh  of  our  own 
selves  and  not  of  God :  the  which  is  great  blasphemy 


RICHARD    WOODMAN.  241 

against  God  and  his  word."  He  quoted  St.  James,  St. 
John,  and  St.  Paul,  and  went  on  to  apply  those  scriptures. 
"  Seeing  then,  that  every  good  and  perfect  gift  cometh  from 
above,  and  lighteneth  upon  whom  it  pleaselh  God,  and 
that  he  vvorketh  in  us  both  the  will  and  the  deed,  methink 
all  the  rest  of  our  own  will  is  little  worth,  or  naught  at  all, 
unless  it  be  wickedness." 

He  then  craved  leave  to  answer  to  the  matter  of  Jacob's 
faith,  which  Langdale  had  put  aside,  as  having  nothing  to 
do  with  baptism:  the  doctor  consented,  probably  as  Wood- 
man suspected,  hoping  to  lay  hold  on  some  of  his  words ; 
and  he  proceeded,  "First,  if  you  be  remembered,  you  said 
that  if  my  child  had  died  without  baptism,  if  I  had  been  the 
cause  that  it  had  not  been  baptized,  the  child  should  have 
been  damned,  and  I  too.  How  say  you  ?"  "  Yea,  that  you 
should,"  answered  the  doctor.  Woodman  returned,  "  That 
is  most  untrue,  for  the  prophet  saith,  The  father  shall  not 
bear  the  child's  offences;  nor  the  child  the  father's  offences; 
but  the  soul  that  sinneth  shall  die.  What  could  the  child 
have  done  withal,  if  it  had  died  without  baptism?  the  child 
could  not  do  withal.  How  say  you  unto  this?  And  I  am 
sure  that  what  I  brought  in,  in  the  old  law  to  prove  that 
faith  is  before  baptism,  is  not  disagreeable  unto  the  word. 
For  circumcision  was  a  figure  of  baptism  ;  and  that  I  may 
bring  to  prove  baptism  by,  as  well  as  St.  Peter  did :  for  he 
brought  in  Noah's  flood,  which  was  a  long  time  before  Jacob 
and  Esau,  to  prove  baptism  ;  saying,  '  While  the  ark  was 
a  preparing,  wherein  kw,  that  is  eight  souls,  were  saved 
by  water ;  like  as  baptism  also  now  saveth  us ;  not  in  put- 
ting away  the  fillh  of  the  flesh,  but  there  is  a  good  con- 
science consenting  to  God."  Here  Peter  proveth  that  water 
had  not  saved  Noah  and  the  other  seven,  no  more  than  it 
saved  all  the  rest,  if  it  had  not  been  for  their  faith;  which 
faith  now  saveth  us ;  not  in  putting  away  the  filthy  soil  of 
the  flesh  by  the  washing  of  the  water,  but  by  a  good  con- 
science consenting  unto  God.  But  you  say,  if  they  be  bap- 
tized with  the  water,  if  they  die  before  they  come  to  years 
of  discretion,  they  be  all  saved:  the  which  St.  Peter  is  clean 
against,  unless  you  grant  that  children  have  faith  before 
they  be  baptized.  Now,  I  ask  you  what  consent  of  con- 
science the  children  have,  being  infants?  For  you  say 
they  believe  not  before  they  be  baptized ;  er^o,  then  they 
consent  not  to  be  baptized,  because  they  believe  not.  And 
by  this  it  foUoweth  that  none  shall  be  saved,  although  they 

MARTYROLOGY. VOL.  II.  21 


242  RICHARD    WOODMAK. 

be  baptized.  I  would  fain  see  how  you  can  answer  this." 
Langdale  replied,  "  You  are  the  most  perverse  man  that 
ever  I  knew:  you  wot  not  what  you  say.  The  children 
are  baptized  in  their  godfathers'  and  godmothers'  faith,  and 
that  is  the  good  conscience  that  St.  Peter  speaketh  of:  and 
the  christening  is  the  keeping  of  the  law  that  St.  Paul 
speaketh  of,  saying.  Neither  is  circumcision  anything  worth, 
nor  uncircumcision,  but  the  keeping  of  the  law  is  altoge- 
ther. Like  as  circumcision  was  the  keeping  of  the  old  law, 
so  is  baptism  the  keeping  of  the  new  law."  To  this  Wood- 
man replied,  "  Ah,  melhought  if  you  would  talk  with  me, 
you  should  be  fain  to  bring  in  the  old  law,  to  maintain 
your  sayings  by;  for  all  that  you  refused  it  when  I  brought 
it  in.  But  yet  it  servelh  not  for  your  purpose  so  much  as 
you  think  for.  For  here  you  have  confessed  that  neither 
circumcision  availeth,  nor  uncircumcision;  the  which  you 
yourself  have  coupled  with  baptism,  proving  that  none  of 
them  prevaileth,  but  keeping  of  the  law  is  all  together:  the 
which  law  is  kept,  you  say,  by  the  outward  signs ;  which 
is  nothing  so:  for  Abraham  believed  God,  and  that  was 
counted  to  him  for  righteousness,  and  this  was  before  he 
was  circumcised."  After  a  little  more  on  this  point,  he 
asked,  "Where  you  said  the  children  be  baptized  in  their 
godfathers'  and  godmothers'  faith,  they  being  all  unbe- 
lievers, in  what  faith  is  the  child  baptized,  then  1  In  none 
at  all  by  your  own  saying."  This  greatly  moved  the  doc- 
tor, who  exclaimed,  "What !  then  you  would  count  that 
there  are  very  few  believers,  if  there  be  not  one  of  three 
that  beiieveth.  You  enter  into  judgment  against  the  peo- 
ple. Belike  you  think  there  be  none  that  believe  well,  un- 
less they  be  of  your  mind.  Indeed,  then,  Christ's  flock 
were  a  very  little  flock."  Woodman  replied,  "  Indeed, 
these  be  Christ's  words,  in  Luke  xii.,  the  which  we  may 
see  to  be  very  true.  Yea,  you  said,  if  there  were  not  one 
amongst  three,  that  were  very  kw.  But  there  is  not  one 
amongst  three  hundred  for  any  thing  that  I  can  see ;  for 
if  there  were,  there  would  not  be  so  many  that  would  seek 
their  neighbours'  goods  and  lives  as  there  be."  Langdale 
cunningly  asked  him  how  many  he  thought  there  were  of 
that  little  flock :  but  he  got  not  the  information  he  wanted, 
for  Woodman  told  him  it  would  be  making  himself  equal 
with  God  to  answer  it ;  he  then  quoted  many  passages,  to 
show  that  the  great  mass  of  mankind  are  in  error,  and 
Christ's  believing  people  a  small   number,  ending  by  an 


RICHARD    WOODMAN.  243 

offer  to  prove  it  further,  and  also  that  the  doctor  and  his 
party  were  not  in  that  small  number.  Langdale  then  be- 
gan to  stamp  and  rage,  railing  at  him  for  a  long  while. 
When  he  had  finished,  Woodman  asked  wherefore  he  was 
so  angry  at  his  answering  the  questions  proposed '.'  Lang- 
dale  said  he  had  not  answered  him  to  original  sin  ;  that  he 
denied  original  sin.  Before  the  other  could  reply,  a  gen- 
tleman came  in,  Mr.  Gage,  who  had  been  kind  to  Wood- 
man. He  acted  as  a  peace-maker,  and  persuaded  the  angry 
doctor  to  resume  the  examination,  suggesting  that  he  should 
question  him  on  the  sacrament  of  the  altar .;  and  here  the 
former  discussion  with  Chichester  and  the  priest  was,  in 
substance,  repeated.  It  ended,  of  course,  by  remanding 
the  prisoner  to  the  Marshalsea. 

Woodman  did  not,  in  the  foregoing  argument,  intend  to 
oppose  infant  baptism  ;  he  had  already  acknowledged  it  as 
scriptural  and  proper:  but  besought  to  combat  that  popish 
error  wherein  liawkes  had  so  ably  resisted  Bonner,  and 
which  asserts  that  the  mere  outward  rite  is  so  indispensa- 
ble to  the  salvation  of  the  soul,  that  an  infant  dying  before 
it  can  be  sprinkled  must  be  eternally  lost.  Woodman,  it  is 
evident,  had  some  singular  views  of  the  Holy  Scriptures, 
as,  for  instance,  his  supposing  the  symbol,  "  lively  stones," 
to  refer  to  flint  stones,  out  of  which  fire  might  be  struck  to 
enlighten  the  darkness  of  others.  A  beautiful  idea,  though 
a  strange  one.  Salvation  by  faith  alone,  and  through  grace 
alone,  was  the  point  which  the  Lord's  people  guarded  with 
excessive  care,  in  contradiction  to  the  merit-mongeringand 
will-worshipping  of  the  persecuting  church.  This  gives 
them  occasionally  the  appearance  of  too  lightly  regarding 
those  outward  ordinances  which  their  enemies  exalted  into 
saviours ;  but  in  reality  they  did  not  so. 

Woodman's  next  examination  took  place  at  St.  George's 
church,  in  Southwark,  before  the  bishops  of  Winchester 
and  Rochester,  with  others.  Winchester  commenced  by 
giving  a  long  history  of  his  former  imprisonment  and  re- 
lease, his  alleged  offences  since,  and  his  capture.  In  this 
he  made  just  as  many  mistakes  as  he  made  statements  ; 
and  at  the  end  Woodman  showed  him  the  utter  falsehood 
of  all  he  had  said.  The  whole  time  was  occupied  in  re- 
peating stories  of  Woodman's  reported  sayings  and  actions, 
contrary  to  the  laws,  not  one  of  which  charges  could  they 
maintain ;  and  he  was  sent  back  to  prison,  when  there 
seemed  a  greater  probability  of  their  being  compelled  to 


244  RICHARD    WOODMAN. 

release  him.     But  what  can  the  lamb's  innocence  avail, 
when  the  hungry  wolf  has  it  under  his  paw  ? 

Three  weeks  afterwards,  he  was  brought  to  St.  Mary's, 
in  Soulhwark,  where  sat  the  bishop  of  Winchester,  Harps- 
field,  Langdale,  and  other  commissioners,  in  the  presence 
of  above  three  hundred  people.  Winchester  began  by  re- 
buking him  for  defending  himself  so  stoutly  on  the  last  occa- 
sion, when  Woodman  had  maintained  that  he  was  not  sent 
to  prison  for  any  heresy,  but  for  the  breach  of  a  statute  in 
speaking  to  a  priest  in  the  pulpit.  The  bishop  now  tried 
to  disprove  this  ;  but  Woodman  told  him  he  had  bought  a 
statute-book  since  he  was  imprisoned,  and  had  made  out  the 
whole  case,  confirming  what  he  had  before  asserted,  and 
proving  the  bishop's  charge  to  be  false.  Finding  this  would 
not  answer,  Winchester  then  produced  the  account,  in  the 
prisoner's  own  writing,  of  his  former  examinations  before 
the  commissioners,  and  proceeded  to  question  him  of  his 
belief  in  their  sacrament  of  the  altar.  Woodman,  seeing 
that  the  bishop  only  wanted  to  make  him  utter,  in  his  dio- 
cese, something  that  he  might  catch  hold  of,  to  assume  the 
character  of  his  ordinary,  replied,"!  will  answer  you  to  no 
such  thing,  for  I  am  not  of  your  diocese;  therefore  I  will 
not  answer  to  you."  Winchester  said,  "  Thou  art  within 
my  diocese,  and  thou  hast  offended  within  my  diocese ;  and 
therefore  I  will  have  to  do  with  thee."  "  Have  to  do  with 
me  if  you  will,"  returned  the  martyr ;  "  but  I  will  have 
nothing  to  do  with  you,  I  tell  you  plainly:  for  though  I  be 
now  in  your  diocese,  I  have  not  offended  in  your  diocese, 
if  I  have,  show  me  wherein."  He  was  told  of  his  own 
hand-writing,  there  present,  which  stated  his  heretical  opi- 
nions. He  owned  it  as  his,  but  said  that,  being  merely  a 
relation  of  the  talk  between  him  and  the  commissioners,  it 
was  no  offence,  nor  had  they  any  thing  to  do  with  it.  The 
bishop  then  ordered  him  to  be  sworn,  that  he  might  ques- 
tion him  as  to  where  he  wrote  it,  and  whether  he  still  held 
the  same  doctrines  ;  but  Woodman  refused  to  be  sworn  by 
him,  not  being  his  ordinary;  and  also  protested  he  wrote 
no  word  of  the  paper  in  that  diocese.  Langdale  then  assert- 
ed that  it  was  written  in  the  King's  Bench.  Wood- 
man declared  he  did  not  write  it  there.  A  fat  priest  next 
demanded  where  he  wrote  it.  He  answered,  that  he  owed 
him  not  so  much  service  as  to  tell  him  :  they  must  find  it 
out  how  they  could,  for  they  only  sought  his  life.  Win- 
chester then  went  on  to  quote  from  his  paper  the  replies 


RICHARD    WOODMAN.  245 

that  he  had  formerly  given  to  the  commissioners,  and  seve- 
ral times  sought  to  entrap  him  into  some  expression  of  his 
opinion  there;  but  Woodman  was  too  wary  to  be  caught. 
When  the  bishop,  afier  reading  his  remarks  on  the  giving 
forth  of  false  doctrine  in  pulpits  and  churches,  asked  him 
where  it  took  place,  he  replied,  "  In  the  synagogue  of  Satan, 
where  God  is  dishonoured  with  false  doctrine."  "  I  pray 
you,  where  is  one  of  them  V  asked  Winchester.  "  Nay," 
he  replied,  "  that  judge  yourself;  I  came  not  hither  to  be  a 
judge."  Having,  in  like  manner,  baffled  all  the  attempts 
to  make  him  commit  himself,  he  answered  the  bishop  very 
severely  to  some  of  his  railing  speeches,  quoting  the  book 
of  Revelation,  and  also  the  apocryphal  one  called  the  book 
of  Wisdom.  When  he  named  this,  Winchester  cried  out, 
"  Wisdom?  what  speakest  thou  of  Wisdom?  thou  never 
hadst  it,  for  thou  art  as  very  a  fool  as  ever  I  heard  speak." 
Woodman  answered,  ".Do  you  not  know  that  the  foolish 
things  of  the  world  must  confound  the  wise  things?  Where- 
fore, it  grieveth  me  not  to  be  called  a  fool  at  your  hands." 
"  Nay,  thou  art  none  of  those  fools,"  returned  the  bishop: 
"  thou  art  an  obstinate  fool,  and  a  heretic.  Lay  hand  on 
the  book,  and  answer  to  such  things  as  I  will  lay  against 
thee."  Woodman  refused,  repeating  that  he  was  not  of 
that  diocese.  W^inchester  exclaimed,  "  This  man  is  with- 
out law;  he  carelh  not  for  the  king  nor  queen,  I  dare  say, 
for  he  will  not  obey  their  laws.  Let  me  see  the  king's 
commission.  I  will  see  whether  he  will  obey  that  or  not." 
The  martyr  remarked,  "  I  would  you  loved  the  king  and 
queen's  majesty  no  worse  than  I  do,  if  it  pleased  God:  you 
would  not  do  as  you  do,  then."  "  Hold  him  a  book,"  re- 
peated the  angry  bishop,  "  he  is  a  rank  heretic.  Thou  shalt 
answer  to  such  things  as  I  will  demand  of  thee." 

Woodman  then  said,  "  I  lake  heaven  and  earth  to  wit- 
ness that  I  am  no  heretic;  neither  can  I  tell  wherefore  I  am 
brought  to  prison,  no  more  than  any  man  here  can  tell." 
He  looked  round  upon  the  people,  and  then  continued,  ad- 
dressing the  bishop,  "  If  you  have  any  just  cause  against 
me  worthy  of  death,  lay  it  against  me,  and  let  me  have  it ; 
for  I  refuse  not  to  die,  I  praise  God,  for  the  truth's  sake,  if 
I  had  ten  lives.  If  you  have  no  cause,  let  me  go  home,  I 
pray  you,  to  my  wife  and  children,  to  see  them  kept ;  and 
other  poor  folk  that  I  would  set  to  work,  by  the  help  of 
God.  I  have  set  to  work  a  hundred  persons  ere  this,  all 
the  year  together,  and  was  unjustly  taken  from  them ;  but 

21* 


246  RICHARD    WOODMAN. 

God  forgive  them  that  did  it,  if  it  be  his  will !"  The  inhu- 
man bishop  now  said,  "  Do  you  see  how  he  lookelh  about 
for  help?  But  I  would  see  any  man  show  thee  a  cheerful 
countenance,  and  especially  you  that  be  of  my  diocese.  If 
any  of  you  bid  God  strengthen  him,  or  take  him  by  the 
hand,  or  embrace  him,  or  show  him  a  cheerful  counte- 
nance, you  shall  be  excommunicated,  and  shall  not  be  re- 
ceived again  till  you  have  done  open  penance ;  and  there- 
fore beware  of  it."  The  martyr  replied,  "  I  look  for  no 
help  of  man,  for  God  is  on  my  side,  I  praise  him  there- 
fore: and  therefore  I  need  not  to  care  who  be  against  me ; 
neither  do  I  care."  The  judges  called  out,  "  Away  with 
him,  and  bring  us  another."  So  he  was  carried  back  to 
prison. 

The  sixth  and  last  examination  of  this  bold  champion 
took  place,  also  at  St.  Mary  Overy's,  two  days  after  the  pre- 
ceding one  ;  where  were  present  the  bishops  of  Winchester 
and  Chichester,  Harpsfield,  Langdale,  Roper,  and  the  same 
priest  who  had  formerly  assisted  them.  Winchester  told 
him  he  had  affirmed  certain  heresies  the  last  time  he  was 
before  them  ;  and  asked  if  he  held  them  still,  or  would  re- 
voke them.  He  answered  that  he  held  no  heresies,  as  the 
Lord  knew.  "  No  !"  said  the  bishop,  "  Did  you  not  affirm 
that  Judas  received  bread  ?  which  is  a  heresy,  unless  you 
tell  what  more  than  bread."  Woodman  replied,  "  Is  it 
heresy  to  say  that  Judas  received  no  more  than  bread  ?  I 
said  he  received  more  than  bare  bread,  for  he  received  the 
same  sacrament  that  was  prepared  to  show  forth  the  Lord's 
death ;  and  because  he  presumed  to  eat  without  faith,  he 
ate  the  devil  withal,  as  the  words  of  Christ  declare ;  after 
he  ate  the  sop,  the  devil  entered  into  him,  as  you  cannot 
deny."  "  Hold  him  a  book,"  said  the  bishop,  "  1  will  have 
you  answer  directly  whether  Judas  did  eat  the  body  of 
Christ,  or  no."  Rut  Woodman  refused  to  be  sworn,  main- 
taining that  the  bishop  of  Winchester  had  no  jurisdiction 
over  him  in  the  cause  :  and  to  this  he  stood  inflexibly.  He 
also  pleaded  that  the  bishop  of  London  had  discharged  him 
of  all  the  matters  laid  against  him  ;  and  that  it  was  unlaw- 
ful as  well  as  unjust,  to  imprison  and  try  him  over  again 
on  ihe  same  charges.  Winchester,  said,  if  he  was  again 
suspected  of  being  a  heretic,  they  had  a  right  to  call  him 
before  them  and  examine  him  of  his  faith,  upon  suspicion. 
"  Indeed,"  said  Woodman,  "  St.  Peter  willeth  me  to  ren- 
der account  of  my  hope  that  I  have  in  God  ;  and  I  am  con- 


RICHARD    WOODMAN. 


24ir 


tented  so  to  do,  if  it  please  my  bishop  to  hear  me,"  "  Yes, 
I  pray  you  let  us  hear  it,"  said  the  bishop  of  Chichester. 

"  I  do  believe  in  God   the  Father  Almighty,  Maker  of 
heaven  and  earth,  and  of  all  things  visible  and  invisible; 
and  in  one  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  my  Saviour,  very  God  and 
very  man.  I  believe  in  God  the  Holy  Ghost,  the  Comforter 
of  all  God's  elect  people,  and  that  he  is  equal  with  the  Fa- 
ther and  the  Son.     I  believe  the  true  catholic  church,  and 
all  the  sacraments  that  belong  thereto.  Thus  have  I  render- 
ed account  of  my  hope  that  I  have  of  my  salvation."  Win- 
chester asked,  "  And  how  believe  you  in  the  blessed  sacra- 
ment of  the  altar?"    And  at  that  word  they  all  put  off  their 
caps  to  the  abominable  idol.     Woodman  replied,  "  I  pray 
you  be  contented,  for  I  will  not  answer  to  any  more  ques- 
tions ;  for  I  perceive  you  go   about  to  shed  my  blood." 
"  No?"  said  the  bishop,  "  hold  him  a  book.     If  he  refuse 
to  swear,  he  is   an  anabaptist,  and  shall  be  excommuni- 
cated."    Woodman  firmly  repeated,  "  I  will  not  swear  for 
you,  excommunicate  me  if  you  will.     For  you  be  not  meet 
to  receive  an  oa!h;  for  you  laid  heresies  to  my  charge  in 
yonder  pulpit,  the  which  you  are  not  able  to  prove;  where- 
fore you  be  not  meet  to  take  an  oath  of  any  man.    And  as 
for  me,  I  am  not  of  your  diocese,  nor  will  have  any  thing 
to  do  with  you."     Winchester  repeated  that  he  would  have 
to  do  with  him  ;  and  that  he  was  a  strong  heretic.    Wood- 
man remarked,  that  all  truth  was   heresy  with  them  :  but 
offered  to  show  them  his  belief  concerning  the  sacrament, 
and  then  repeated  what  he  had  before  declared,  as  to  his 
coming  in  faith  that  Christ  suffered   for  his  sins,  and  that 
he  should  be  saved  by  his  blood-shedding ;  and  so  receiving 
whole  Christ,  mystically,  by  faith.     They  all  cried  out  on 
the  last  words;  and  the  fat  priest  calling  him  a  fool,  de- 
manded what  he  meant  by  mystically.    He  replied,  "  I  take 
mystically  to  be  the  faith  that  is  in  us ;  that  the  world  seeth 
not,  but  God  only." 

Here  Winchester  remarked  that  he  knew  not  what  he 
said ;  and  demanded  once  more  a  direct  answer,  as  to  the 
real  presence  in  the  sacrament.  Woodman  replied,  "  I 
have  said  as  much  as  I  will  say;  excommunicate  me  if  you 
will.  I  am  none  of  your  diocese.  The  bishop  of  Chiches- 
ter is  mine  ordinary.  Let  him  do  it  if  you  will  needs  have 
my  blood,  that  it  may  be  required  at  his  hands."  Chiches- 
ter said,  "  I  am  not  consecrated  yet;  I  told  you  when  you 
were  with  me."     On  which  Woodman,  recollecting  that  a 


248  RICHARD    WOODMAN. 

bull  from  Rome  must  arrive  before  he  could  receive  con- 
secration, quaintly  remarked,  "  No,  indeed,  your  kine  bring 
forth  nothing  but  cow-calves,  as  it  chancelh  now."  This 
put  the  pope's  churchmen  in  a  rage :  they  all  railed  at  him 
together,  telling  him  that  he  was  out  of  his  wits.  "  So  Fes- 
tus  said  to  Paul,  when  he  spake  the  words  of  soberness  and 
truth,  out  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  as  I  do.  But  as  you  have 
judged  me,  you  shall  be  judged  yourselves.  You  shall  go 
to  hell  all  the  sort  of  you,  if  you  condemn  me;  if  you  re- 
pent it  not  with  speed."  After  some  commotion,  Winches- 
ter and  Harpsfield  said,  "  We  go  not  about  to  condemn 
thee,  but  go  about  to  save  thy  soul,  if  thou  wilt  be  ruled, 
and  do  as  we  would  have  thee."  "  To  save  my  soul  V  re- 
peated the  martyr;  "  Nay,  you  cannot  save  my  soul.  My 
soul  is  saved  already:  I  praise  God  therefore.  There  can 
no  man  save  my  soul,  but  Jesus  Christ;  and  he  it  is  that 
has  saved  my  soul,  before  the  foundation  of  the  world  was 
laid."  On  this  the  priest  cried  out,  "  What  a  heresy  is 
that,  my  lords  I  He  saith  his  soul  was  saved  before  the 
foundations  of  the  world  were  laid.  Thou  canst  not  tell 
what  thou  sayest.  Was  thy  soul  saved  before  it  was?" 
*'  Yes,  I  praise  God,  I  can  tell  what  I  say,  and  1  say  the 
truth.  Look  at  the  first  of  the  Ephesians,  and  there  you 
shall  find  it,  where  Paul  saith,  '  Blessed  be  God,  the  Fa- 
ther of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  hath  blessed  us  with  all 
spiritual  blessings  in  heavenly  places  in  Christ,  according 
as  he  hath  chosen  us  in  him  before  the  foundation  of  the 
world,  that  we  should  be  holy  and  without  blame  before 
him  in  love ;  having  predestinated  us  unto  the  adoption  of 
children.'  These  be  the  words  of  Paul,  and  I  believe  they 
be  most  true.  And  therefore  it  is  my  faith,  in  and  by 
Jesus  Christ,  that  saveth;  and  not  you,  or  any  man  else." 
"What!"  said  the  priest,  "  faith  without  works?  St.  James 
saith,  '  Faith  without  works  is  dead;'  and  we  have  free  will 
to  do  good  works."  Woodman  replied,  "  I  would  not  that 
any  of  you  should  think  that  I  disallow  good  works.  For  a 
good  faith  cannot  be  without  good  works.  Yet  not  of  our- 
selves, for  it  is  the  gift  of  God,  as  saith  St,  Paul  to  the 
Philippians,  '  It  is  God  that  worketh  in  us  both  to  will  and 
to  do,  of  his  good  pleasure.'  " 

Winchester,  not  enduring  to  hear  so  much  sound  doctrinej 
now  interposed,  saying,  "  Make  an  end  ;  answer  to  me. 
Here  is  your  ordinary,  the  archdeacon  of  Canterbury,  he 
is  made  your  ordinary  by  my  lord  cardinal,  and  he  hath 


RICHARD    WOODMAN,  249 

authority  to  examine  you  of  your  faith  upon  a  book,  to  an- 
swer to  such  articles  as  he  will  lay  to  you.     And  I  pray 
you  refuse  it  not,  for  the  danger  is  great  if  you  do.   Where- 
fore we  desire  you  to  show  yourself  a  subject  in  this  mat- 
ter."    Then  the  rest,  having  by  this  time  discovered  that 
nothing  was  to  be  done  with  their  resolute  victim  by  harsh- 
ness, all  joined,  saying,  "  Lo,  my  lord  desireth  you  gently 
to  answer  him,  and  so  do  we  all.    For  if  you  refuse  to  take 
an  oath,  he  may  excommunicate  you.     For  my  lord  car- 
dinal may  put  whom  he  will  in  the  bishop's  office,  until  he 
is  consecrated,"     But  Woodman  was  not  to  be  so  led  :  he 
answered,  "  I  know  not  so  much.     If  you  will  give  me 
time  to  learn  the  truth  of  it,  and  if  I  can  prove  it  to  be  as 
you  say,  I  will  tell  you  my  mind  in  any  thing  he  shall  ask 
of  me,  without  any  flattering."    The  priest  said,  "  My  lord 
and  we  all  tell  thee  it  is  true;  and  therefore  answer  to  him." 
"  I  will  believe  none  of  you  all,"  replied  Woodman,  "  for 
you  be  turncoats  and  changelings,  and  be  wavering-minded, 
as  sailh  St.  James  ;  you  be  neither  hot  nor  cold,  as  saith  St. 
John,  therefore  God  will  cast  you  out  of  his  mouth.  Where- 
fore  I  can  believe   none    of  you   all,  I   tell   you   truth." 
"  What !"  said  Winchester,  "  be  we  turncoats  and  change- 
lings? What  meanest  thou  by  that?"  "  1  mean,"  answered 
the  plain-spoken  prisoner,  "  that  in  king  Edward's  days  you 
taught  the  doctrine  that  was  set  forth  then,  every  one  of 
you  ;  and  now  you  teach  the  contrary;  therefore  I  call  you 
turncoats  and  changelings,  as  I  may  well  enough."   These 
words  made  them  quake,  and  Winchester  said,  "  Nay,  not 
all,  as  it  chanced."     "  No !  I  pray  you,  where  were  you 
then  ?"  asked  Woodman.     The  bishop  replied,  "  I  was  in 
the  Tower,  as  the  lieutenant  will  bear  me  record."     "  If 
you  were  in  the   Tower,"  said  Woodman,  "  it  was  not 
therefore,  I  dare  say;  it  was  for  some  other  matter."  Then 
the  others  took   heart,  and  said,  "  My  lord,  he  cometh  to 
examine  you,  we  think :  if  he  will  not  answer  to  the  arti- 
cles, you  were  best  to  excommunicate  him."     The  bishop 
replied,  "  He  is  the  naughtiest  varlet  heretic  that  ever  I 
I  knew:  I  will  read  the  sentence  against  him."    After  some 
more  angry  speaking,  and  being  told  again  by  Woodman 
that  if  he  condemned  him  he  would   be  punished  everlast- 
ingly; with  the  assurance  that  he  himself  was  not  afraid 
to  die  for  God's  sake,  if  he  had  a  hundred  lives,  the  bishop 
repeated,  "  For   God's  sake  ?    nay,  for  the   devil's  sake. 
Thou  sayest  thou  art  not  afraid  to  die  ;  no  more  was  Judas 


250  RICHARD    WOODMAN. 

that  hanged  himself,  as  thou  wilt  kill  thyself  wilfully,  be- 
cause thou  wilt  not  be  ruled."  Woodman  said,  "  Nay,  I 
defy  the  devil,  Judas,  and  all  their  members.  And  Judas' 
flesh  was  not  afraid,  but  his  spirit  and  conscience  was 
afraid,  and  therefore  he  despaired  and  hung  himself.  But, 
I  praise  God,  I  feel  no  lothsomeness  in  my  flesh  to  die,  but 
a  joyful  conscience  and  a  willing  mind  thereto.  Wherefore 
my  flesh  is  subdued  to  it,  I  praise  God  ;  and  therefore  I  am 
not  afraid  of  death." 

The  bishop  of  Chichester  now  said,  "  Woodman,  for 
God's  sake  be  ruled.  You  know  what  you  said  at  my 
house.  I  could  say  more,  if  I  would."  "  Say  what  you 
can,"  replied  the  undaunted  martyr ;  "  the  most  fault  that 
you  found  in  me  was,  because  I  praised  the  Living  God  ; 
and  because  I  said,  I  praise  God,  and  The  Lord  :  which 
you  ought  to  be  ashamed  of,  if  you  have  any  grace;  for  I 
told  you  where  the  words  were  written."  Winchester  spoke 
next:  "  Well,  how  say  you?  Will  you  confess  that  Judas 
received  the  body  of  Christ  unworthily?  tell  me  plainly." 
"  My  lord,"  he  replied,  "if  you,  or  any  of  you  all,  can  prove 
before  all  this  audience,  in  all  the  Bible,  that  any  man  ever 
ate  the  body  of  Christ  unworthily,  then  I  will  be  with  you 
in  all  things  that  you  will  demand  of  me ;  of  the  which 
matter  I  desire  all  these  people  to  be  witness."  "  Will  you 
so?"  said  the  priest,  "  then  we  shall  agree  well  enough, 
St.  Paul  saith  so."  Woodman  said,  "  I  pray  you  where 
saith  he  so?  Rehearse  the  words."  The  priest  answered, 
"  In  the  eleventh  chapter  of  the  first  epistle  to  the  Corinthi- 
ans, he  saith,  '  Whoso  eateth  of  this  bread,  and  drinketh  of 
that  cup,  unworthily,  eateth  and  drinketh  his  own  damna- 
tion, because  he  maketh  no  difference  of  the  Lord's  body.'  " 
Woodman  then  said,  "  Do  these  words  prove  that  Judas 
ate  the  body  of  Christ  unworthily?  I  pray  you  let  me  see 
them."  They  gave  him  the  book,  and  he  went  on:  "  These 
be  the  words,  even  that  you  said :  good  people  hearken 
well  to  them  :  '  Whoso  eateth  of  this  bread,  and  drinketh 
of  this  cup  unworthily:'  he  saith  not.  Whoso  eateth  of 
this  body  unworthily,  or  drinketh  of  this  blood  unworthily; 
but  he  saith,  '  Whosoever  eateth  of  this  bread,  and  drink- 
eth of  this  cup  unworthily  (which  is  the  sacrament)  eateth 
and  drinketh  his  own  damnation,'  because  he  maketh  no 
difference  between  the  sacrament  which  representeth  the 
Lord's  body,  and  other  bread  and  drink.  Here,  good  people, 
you  may  all  see  they  are  not  able  to  prove  their  sayings 


WOODMAN    AND    OTHERS.  251 

true.     Wherefore,  I  cannot  believe  them  in  any  thing  that 
they  do." 

Winchester  exclaimed,  "Thou  art  a  rank  heretic  indeed! 
Art  thou  an  expounder?  Now  I  will  read  sentence  against 
thee."  "  Judge  not,  lest  you  be  judged,"  said  the  martyr, 
again;  "for  as  you  have  judged  me,  you  be  yourself." 
Winchester  commenced  reading,  and  he  asked,  "  Why, 
will  you  read  the  sentence  against  me,  and  cannot  tell 
wherefore?"  "  Thou  art  an  heretic,"  answered  the  wicked 
prelate,  "and  therefore  thou  shall  be  excommunicated."  "I 
am  no  heretic,  I  take  heaven  and  earth  to  witness,  I  defy 
all  heretics  ;  and  if  you  condemn  me,  you  will  be  damned, 
if  you  repent  not.  But  God  give  you  grace  to  repent  it,  if 
it  be  his  will." 

"  And  so,"  writes  Woodman,  in  closing  his  story,  "  he 
read  forth  the  sentence  in  Latin,  but  what  he  said  God 
knoweth,  and  not  I.  God  be  judge  between  them  and  me. 
When  he  had  done,  I  would  have  talked  my  mind  to  them, 
but  they  cried.  Away,  away  with  him  !  So  I  was  carried 
to  the  Marshalsea  again ;  where  I  am  ;  and  shall  be,  as 
long  as  it  shall  please  God.  And  I  praise  God  most  hear- 
tily, that  ever  he  hath  elected,  and  predestinated  me  to  come 
to  so  high  dignity,  as  to  bear  rebuke  for  his  name's  sake ; 
his  name  be  praised  therefore,  for  ever  and  ever.    Amen." 

Woodman  was  not  burned  alone ;  he  made  one  out  of 
ten  who  were  consumed  in  the  same  pile.  George  Ste- 
vens had  been  some  time  also  in  prison  for  the  truth  ;  but 
the  remaining  eight  were  only  apprehended  two,  or  at  most 
three  days  before  they  received  sentence  at  the  mouth  of 
these  ravening  wolves.  W.  Maynard,  and  A.  Hosman, 
his  servant :  J.  Morris,  with  his  aged  mother,  Margery 
Morris;  Thojiasine  Wood,  Mr.  Maynard's  maid-servant; 
Dennis  Burgess  ;  and  two  married  women,  named  Ash- 
downe  and  Grove,  were  all  at  large,  some  say  the  very 
day  before  they  were  committed  to  the  flames.  No  time 
was  allowed  for  a  writ  to  come  down  from  London,  to 
Lewes,  where  they  suffered.  Such  legal  proceedings  were 
now  scarcely  thought  of:  the  process  of  the  murderers  was 
like  that  of  the  Babylonian  tyrant  on  the  plains  of  Dura. 
Whosoever  would  not  worship  their  senseless  gods,  was 
seized,  bound,  and  cast  into  the  fire. 


252  SIMON    MILLER. 


CHAPTER   XII 


VARIOUS    MARTYRDOMS. 


Two  cases  occurred  about  this  time,  where  the  condemned 
servants  of  God  expired  in  prison,  before  they  could  come 
to  the  stake.  One  Ambrose,  at  Maidstone,  and  R.  Lush, 
in  the  diocese  of  Bath  and  Wells.  At  Norwich,  two  vic- 
tims were  offered  up  in  the  month  of  July.  Simon  Miller 
dwelt  at  Lynn;  he  was  a  godly  zealous  man,  and  there- 
fore exceedingly  opposed  to  popery.  Coming  to  Norwich, 
and  seeing  a  great  concourse  of  people  in  the  act  of  leaving 
their  church,  where  the  mass-service  was  just  ended,  he 
stood  among  them,  and  asked  aloud  where  he  might  go  to 
have  the  communion  of  the  Lord's  supper.  Many  were 
amazed  at  his  boldness ;  and  one,  a  bigoted  slave  of  the 
priests,  said  that  if  he  must  needs  go  to  a  communion,  he 
would  bring  him  where  he  should  be  sped  of  his  purpose. 
He  was  then  conducted  to  chancellor  Dunning,  and  while  he 
was  under  examination,  they  espied  the  edge  of  a  bit  of  pa- 
per appearing  above  his  shoe.  It  was  seized,  and  found  to 
contain  an  orthodox  confession  of  faith.  The  chancellor  then 
inquired  whether  he  would  stand  to  what  was  there  writ- 
ten, and  Miller,  declaring  his  purpose  so  to  do,  was  com- 
mitted to  the  bishop's  prison-house.  Through  favour  of 
the  keeper,  however,  or  by  some  means  not  explained,  he 
got  away,  returned  to  Lynn,  and  staid  long  enough  to  set 
his  house  in  order,  and  to  dispose  of  all  his  worldly  con- 
cerns: then  going  back  to  Norwich,  he  again  delivered 
himself  up,  and  quietly  awaited  his  martyrdom. 

Elizabeth  Cooper  was  a  pewterer's  wife,  dwelling  in 
the  parish  of  St.  Andrews,  Norwich.  She  had  before  been 
in  trouble  for  the  truth,  and  recanted  to  save  her  life.  But 
life,  under  the  burden  of  God's  displeasure,  she  found  to  be 
more  intolerable  than  any  kind  of  temporal  death  ;  so,  com- 
ing to  her  parish  church,  during  the  celebration  of  the  popish 
service,  she  stood  up,  and  publicly  revoked  her  former  re- 
cantation made  in  that  place.  She  declared  her  sorrow  for 
that  wicked  act,  and  exhorted  the  people  not  to  take  exam- 
ple by  her  denial  of  the  truth.  This  of  course  was  imme- 
diately followed  by  her  apprehension ;  sorely  against  the 
will  of  the  sheriff,  who  was  compelled  to  take  her  into  cus- 


WILLIAM    MUNT.  253 

tody.  She  was  condemned,  and  brought  to  the  stake  with 
Simon  Miller ;  and  on  first  feeling  the  scorching  flame  upon 
her  poor  weak  flesh,  she  shrunk  a  little,  uttering  a  cry. 
Miller  heard  it,  and  putting  his  hand  behind  him  towards 
her,  entreated  her  to  be  strong  and  of  good  cheer ;  "  for, 
good  sister,"  said  he,  "  we  shall  have  a  joyful  and  a  sweet 
supper."  Strengthened  by  his  words,  she  showed  no  more 
alarm  or  unquietness  ;  but  patiently  and  joyfully  endured 
the  raging  fire,  committing  her  soul  into  the  hands  of  her 
heavenly  Father,  and  so,  with  her  steadfast  companion,  she 
passed  into  a  blessed  eternity. 

Mention  has  been  made  of  twenty-two  prisoners,  sent  up 
from  Colchester  to  London  in  bonds,  who  were  set  at  liberty 
upon  a  mere  nominal  submission.  Among  these  was  one 
William  Munt,  with  Alice  his  wife,  and  their  daughter, 
Rose  Ailen,  a  young  maiden.  This  godly  family,  return- 
ing to  their  home  in  Essex,  continued  as  before,  to  worship 
God  according  to  their  consciences,  never  entering  a  place 
of  idolatrous  worship.  Their  absence  from  the  church 
greatly  vexed  the  parish  priest,  one  Tye,  who  complained 
heavily  of  them  to  lord  Darcy,  and  then,  in  another  letter, 
to  Bonner,  representing  them  as  most  pestilent  heretics. 
This  brought  a  storm  of  persecution  about  God's  poor  peo- 
ple ;  so  that  they  were  forced  to  hide  themselves.  How- 
ever, it  did  not  avail :  on  a  Sunday,  at  two  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  the  house  was  entered  by  Edmund  Tyrrel,  a  de- 
scendant, Fox  says,  of  the  Tyrrel  who  murdered  king  Ed- 
ward v.,  and  his  brother,  attended  by  the  bailiff"  of  the 
hundred,  two  constables,  and  a  great  number  of  followers, 
who  beset  the  house,  while  Tyrrel,  with  a  few  of  his  com- 
panions, went  to  the  chamber  where  Munt  and  his  wife 
were  lying,  and  ordered  them  to  rise  up  and  go  with  him 
to  Colchester  castle.  The  poor  woman  was  sick,  and  being 
faint,  she  requested  that  her  daughter  might  bring  her  a 
little  drink  before  she  got  up.  This  was  granted,  and  Rose, 
taking  a  stone  pot  in  one  hand  and  a  candle  in  the  other, 
went  to  draw  the  drink.  As  she  returned,  Tyrrel  met  her 
in  another  room,  and  desired  her  to  give  her  father  and 
mother  good  counsel,  that  they  might  be  better  "  catholic" 
people.  "  Sir,"  answered  the  maiden,  "  they  have  a  better 
Instructor  than  I :  for  the  Holy  Ghost  doth  teach  them,  I 
hope,  who  I  trust  will  not  suffer  them  to  err."  On  this 
Tyrrel  exclaimed,  "Why,  art  thou  still  in  that  mind,  thou 
naughty  hussey?     Marry,  it  is  time  to  look  after  such  her- 

MARTYROLOGY. VOL.  II.  22 


254  ROSE    ALLEN. 

etics  indeed."  "  Sir,"  replied  Rose,  "  with  what  you  call 
heresy,  do  I  worship  my  Lord  God,  I  tell  you  truth."  Tyr- 
rel  observed,  "  Then  I  perceive  you  will  burn,  gossip,  with 
the  rest,  for  company's  sake."  "  No,  sir,  not  for  compa- 
ny's sake,  but  for  my  Christ's  sake,  if  so  I  be  compelled ; 
and  I  hope  in  his  mercies  if  he  call  me  to  it,  he  will  enable 
me  to  bear  it." 

Tyrrel,  hearing  this,  turned  to  his  friends,  and  said, 
"  Sirs,  this  gossip  will  burn;  do  you  not  think  it?"  One 
of  them  replied,  "Marry  sir,  prove  her,  and  you  shall  see 
what  she  will  do  by  and  by."  This  appeal  to  the  tender 
mercies  of  popery  was  not  lost  upon  the  inhuman  scoffer. 
He  took  the  candle  from  the  young  girl,  and  seizing  her  by 
the  wrist,  held  the  back  of  her  hand  over  the  flame,  burn- 
ing it  across,  until  the  sinews  cracked  asunder.  This  fact, 
almost  incredible  under  all  the  circumstances,  was  attested 
by  one  who  stood  by  and  saw  it ;  as  also  by  two  persons 
who  dressed  the  wound,  at  a  house  where  the  innocent 
family  rested  the  next  night  on  their  journey.  During  this 
dreadful  infliction,  the  wretch  Tyrrel  kept  exclaiming, 
"  Wilt  thou  not  cry  ?"  addressing  her  by  a  vile  epithet 
each  time:  she  answered  that  she  had  no  cause,  she  thanked 
God,  but  rather  to  rejoice.  He  had  more  cause,  she  said, 
to  weep  than  she,  if  he  considered  well  the  end  of  the  mat- 
ter. When  the  sinews  had  burst  with  a  sound  that  might 
be  heard  through  the  house,  he  thrust  her  from  him,  with 
a  torrent  of  the  foulest  language  that  could  be  uttered :  and 
she,  when  he  paused,  quietly  said,  "  Sir,  have  you  done 
what  ye  will  do?"  "  Yea,"  answered  this  monster,  "  and 
if  you  think  it  be  not  well,  then  mend  it."  "  Mend  it !"  re- 
peated Rose ;  "  may  the  Lord  mend  you,  and  give  you  re- 
pentance, if  it  be  his  will.  And  now  if  you  think  it  good, 
begin  at  the  feet,  and  burn  the  head  also ;  for  he  that  set 
you  to  work  shall  pay  you  your  wages  one  day,  I  warrant 
you."  She  then  carried  the  drink  to  her  mother.  During 
her  imprisonment.  Rose  describing  to  a  friend  the  manner 
of  burning  her  hand,  said,  "  While  it  was  burning,  I,  hav- 
ing a  pot  in  my  other  hand,  might  have  laid  him  on  the 
face  with  it,  if  I  would,  for  no  man  held  my  hand,  to  let 
me  therein.  But,  I  thank  God  with  all  my  heart,  I  did  it 
not."  Being  asked  by  another  how  she  could  endure  such 
torture,  she  said  it  was  at  first  some  grief  to  her;  but  after- 
wards, the  longer  she  burned  the  less  she  felt  it,  or  well 
near  none  at  all. 


ROSE  ALLEN.  255 

After  this  horrible  cruelty,  the  party  searched  the  house 
further,  and  finding   there  a  man  named  John  Thurston, 
with  Margaret,  his  wife,  carried  them  also  to  Colchester,  on 
suspicion.     Thurston  died  there.     In  the  castle  was  a  pri- 
soner named   John   Johnson,  who   was  joined   with   the 
Munts  in  their  condemnation  and  death.     On  being  brought 
to  examination  before  Chedsey  and  others,  Munt  said  that 
the  sacrament  of  the  altar  was  an  abominable   idol,  and 
that  if  he  observed  any  part  of  their  popish  proceedings  he 
should  displease  God,  and  bring  his  curse  upon  him  :  and 
therefore,  for  fear  of  his  vengeance,  he  durst  not  do  it.     He 
was  examined  on  many  points  ;  but,  by  the  grace  of  God, 
he  stood  firm  to  the  truth,  and  heard   his  sentence  read. 
Johnson,  who  was  from  Thorpe,  in  Essex,  bore  a  similar 
testimony,  and  was  also  condemned.     Alice  Munt  confirm- 
ed, in  all  respects,  what  her  husband  had  declared,  and  was 
made  partaker  of  his  doom.     Last  came  Rose,  who,  at  the 
age  of  twenty  years,  had  been  already  permitted  to  make 
trial  of  the  Lord's  faithfulness  in  supporting  his   poor  peo- 
ple under  the  torment  of  fire.     She  answered  very  boldly, 
when  examined  on   the  seven  sacraments  of  the  Romish 
church,  and  their  other  ordinances,  that  they  stunk  in  the 
face  of  God,  and  she  durst  not  have  to  do  with  them  for 
her  life :   neither  was  she  any  member  of  theirs,  for  they 
were,  she  told  them,  the  members  of  Antichrist,  and  so 
should  have,  if  they  repented  not,  the  reward  of  Antichrist. 
Being  asked  what  she  could  say  of  the  see  of  the  bishop  of 
Rome,  whether  she  would  obey  his  authority  or  no,  she  re- 
plied, that  she  was  none  of  his:  adding,  "  As  for  his  see, 
it  is  for  kites,  owls,  and  ravens  to  swim  in,  such  as  you  be; 
for,  by  the  grace  of  God,  I  will  not  swim  in  that  sea  while 
I  live,  neither  will  I  have  any  thing  to  do  therewith."     They 
condemned  her,  and  sending  her  back  to  prison  with  the 
rest,  she  continued  singing  for  joy,  to  the  wonder  of  many 
who  heard  and  saw  her  gladness  of  heart.     In  the  castle 
they  remained  continually  praising  God,  and  looking  for 
the  day  of  their  deliverance,  which  was  not  far  distant;  for 
Bonner  hastened  to  send  down  the  writ,  with   his   trusty 
agent  Cosins  to  see  it  put  into  cruel  execution,  and  the  2d  of 
August  was  fixed  for  the  murder. 

They  were  not,  however,  to  be  the  only  victims :  six 
other  faithful  followers  of  the  Lamb  were  to  undergo  the 
like  fiery  trial  on  the  same  day.  These  were  confined  in 
Mote-hall,  another  prison  in  Colchester,  and  had  all  been 


256  VARIOUS  MAHTYRS. 

condemned  together.  William  Bongear,  a  glazier,  na- 
tive of  that  town,  said  that  the  sacrament  of  the  altar  was 
bread,  is  bread,  and  so  remaineth  bread  ;  and  for  their  con- 
secration it  is  not  the  holier,  but  rather  the  reverse.  He 
stood  to  this,  and  his  sentence  was  read.  Thomas  Benold, 
a  tallow-chandler,  also  of  Colchester,  held  the  same,  and 
received  the  like  condemnation.  W.  Purcas,  a  youth  of 
twenty  years,  of  Booking,  in  Essex,  said  that  when  he  re- 
ceived the  sacrament  he  received  bread  in  a  holy  use,  that 
preacheth  the  remembrance  that  Christ  died  for  him.  From 
this  he  could  not  be  moved,  nor  from  his  other  scriptural 
doctrine:  so  they  condemned  him.  Agnes  Silverside, 
widow,  of  Colchester,  said  that  she  loved  no  consecration 
(meaning  the  pretended  transubstantiation  of  the  elements), 
for  she  thought  the  bread  and  wine  rather  the  worse  than 
the  better  for  it.  This  poor  woman  answered  them  to 
all  they  said  with  equal  boldness  and  judgment,  so  as  to 
rejoice  the  hearts  of  all  who  loved  the  truth.  She  bore  pa- 
tiently many  mocks  and  taunts,  and  received  her  sentence. 
Helen  Ewring,  a  miller's  wife,  of  the  same  town,  was 
one  of  the  twenty-two  prisoners  already  mentioned ;  and 
after  her  deliverance  had  returned  home,  where  she  enjoy- 
ed not  long  her  liberty,  for,  meeting  with  a  bailiif  of  the 
place,  whom  she  knew  to  be  a  special  enemy  to  Christ's 
gospel,  he  came  up,  saluted  her,  and  welcomed  her  back 
from  London.  She  remarked  to  him  that  it  was  but  a 
Judas'  kiss  he  had  given  her,  for  in  the  end  he  would,  she 
knew,  betray  her.  And  so  it  came  to  pass  :  he  apprehend- 
ed her  a  few  days  afterwards,  and  lodged  her  in  prison. 
When  put  on  her  examination,  although  very  hard  of  hear- 
ing, she  was  distinct  enough  in  her  declarations,  denying 
with  her  whole  heart  all  the  laws  set  forth  by  the  pope. 
She,  too,  was  condemned.  Last  came  a  young  servant  maid- 
en, named  Elizabeth  Folks,  who,  having  been  examined 
separately  on  only  one  article,  whether  she  believed  there 
was  a  Catholic  church  of  Christ  or  no,  and  answering  yea, 
was  delivered  to  her  uncle,  who  was  told  to  take  her  home. 
But  a  report  being  spread  that  she  had  recanted,  she  could 
by  no  means  rest:  she  wept  in  great  anguish  of  mind  and 
terror  of  conscience,  until  she  hastened  back  to  the  house 
of  Cosins,  and  made  such  a  statement  of  her  faith  that  they 
brought  her  up  again  with  the  foregoing  five,  and  examined 
her  as  to  whether  she  believed  the  presence  of  Christ's 
body  to  be  in  the  sacrament  substantially  and  really,  or  no? 


ELIZABETH  FOLKS.  257 

She  answered  that  she  believed  it  was  a  substantial  lie,  and 
a  real  lie.  At  this  the  priests  were  greatly  chafed,  and 
again  asked  her  whether,  after  consecration,  there  remain- 
ed not  the  body  of  Christ  in  the  sacrament  1  She  replied, 
that  before  consecration,  and  after,  it  is  but  bread ;  and  that 
which  man  blesseth  without  God's  word,  is  cursed  and 
abominable  by  the  word.  Then  they  asked  her  of  con- 
fession to  a  priest,  of  going  to  hear  mass,  of  the  authority 
of  the  bishop  of  Rome,  and  other  matters;  to  all  which  she 
answered,  that  she  would  neither  use  nor  frequent  any  of 
them  all,  by  the  grace  of  God,  but  from  the  bottom  of  her 
heart  utterly  detested  and  abhorred  all  such  trumpery. 
When  sentence  was  read  against  her  Chedsey  wept  much ; 
but  she,  at  the  conclusion,  kneeled  down,  and  lifting  up 
her  hands  and  eyes  to  heaven,  with  fervent  prayer,  audi- 
bly praised  God  that  ever  she  was  born  to  see  that  most 
blessed  and  happy  day,  that  the  Lord  would  count  her  wor- 
thy to  suffer  for  the  testimony  of  Christ.  "  And,  Lord," 
she  said,  "  if  it  be  thy  will,  forgive  them  that  they  have 
done  this  against  me,  for  they  know  not  what  they  do." 
Then,  rising  up,  she  exhorted  all  those  on  the  bench  to  re- 
pentance, especially  marking  out  Maynard,  the  bailiff,  who 
had  betrayed  Helen  Ewring,  and  many  others ;  a  man 
whose  feelings  were  so  seared,  that  when  sitting  in  judg- 
ment with  the  rest  on  his  victims,  he  usually  slept  the 
while.  She  also  warned  all  halting  gospellers  to  beware 
of  blood,  for  it  would  cry  for  vengeance;  and,  in  conclu- 
sion, laying  her  hand  on  the  bar  at  which  she  stood,  the 
courageous  girl  told  them  all,  that  if  they  did  not  repent 
their  wicked  doings  therein,  undoubtedly  that  very  bar 
would  witness  against  them,  in  the  day  of  judgment,  that 
they  had  on  that  day  shed  innocent  blood. 

When  the  appointed  time  came,  it  was  resolved  to  have 
two  of  these  hideous  exhibitions,  instead  of  one ;  to  burn 
six  in  the  morning,  and  four  in  the  afternoon  ;  so  before 
seven  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  August  the  second,  the 
Lord's  poor  little  flock,  imprisoned  in  Mote-hall,  were 
brought  to  a  plot  of  ground  just  outside  the  town-wall, 
where  all  was  prepared  for  their  suffering.  Here  the  mar- 
tyrs kneeled  down,  making  their  humble  prayers  to  God, 
being  greatly  interrupted  by  the  tyrannous  cruelty  of  those 
about  them  :  one,  in  particular  who  had  apostatized  from 
the  true  faith,  showed  himself  very  forward  in  molesting 
them;  they  therefore  concluded  shortly,  and  undressed  for 
22* 


258  THE    HUNTS GEORGE    EAGLES. 

the  fire.  Elizabeth  Folks  wished  to  give  her  petticoat  to 
her  poor  mother,  who  came  and  kissed  her  as  she  stood  at 
the  stake,  exhorting  her  to  be  strong  in  the  Lord  ;  but  the 
inhuman  tools  of  Satan  who  surrounded  them  would  not 
suffer  it.  The  girl  therefore  threw  the  garment  from  her, 
saying,  "  Farewell  all  the  world — farewell  faith — farewell 
hope;"  and,  taking  the  slake  in  her  hand  and  kissing  it, 
"  welcome  love."  While  she  was  being  fastened  to  the 
stake,  the  man  who  nailed  the  chain,  missed  striking  the 
staple,  and  the  hammer  gave  her  a  heavy  stroke  on  the 
shoulder-bone:  on  feeling  it,  she  suddenly  looked  round, 
then  lifting  her  eyes  to  the  Lord,  prayed  smilingly  awhile, 
and  again  gave  herself  to  exhorting  the  people. 

When  all  these  six  were  nailed,  and  the  fire  kindled  about 
them,  they  with  one  accord  began  clapping  their  hands  for 
joy,  which  so  affected  the  people,  that  they  cried  out  aloud, 
with  a  general  voice,  "  The  Lord  strengthen  them ;  the 
Lord  comfort  them;  the  Lord  pour  his  mercies  upon  them;" 
with  such  like  exclamations,  that  the  outcry  was  wonder- 
ful to  hear.  Meanwhile  the  blessed  martyrs  yielded  their 
bodies  and  their  souls  into  ihe  loving  hands  of  Him  who 
is  the  Saviour  of  both,  and  before  whom  they  now  re- 
joice, with  joy  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory. 

The  other  fire  was  prepared  in  the  Castle-yard  that  same 
afternoon,  and  there  good  old  Munt,  with  his  sick  wife,  and 
constant  daughter,  and  Johnson,  who  left  behind  him  three 
motherless  little  babes,  were  made  fast  to  their  slakes. 
They  called  upon  God,  exhorted  the  spectators  to  flee  from 
idolatry,  and  met  the  flames  with  such  triumphant  joy,  that 
the  people  were  no  less  moved  than  in  the  morning,  and 
responded  to  their  prayers  and  praises  with  such  shouts  as 
they  had  uttered  before.  Thus  entered  ten  souls  into  glory 
on  that  day,  to  receive  the  kingdom  prepared  for  them  be- 
fore the  foundation  of  the  world. 

At  Bristol,  ihey  put  to  death  a  weaver  named  Thomas 
Benion,  who  asserted  that  in  the  sacrament,  as  they  used 
it,  was  nothing  but  bread  ;  and  also,  that,  of  the  seven  which 
they  held,  only  two  were  really  sacraments — baptism,  and 
the  Lord's  supper.  The  chancellor,  Dalby,  condemned 
him,  and  he  suffered  most  patiently,  with  his  last  breath 
rehearsing,  in  the  flames,  the  articles  of  his  Christian 
fai'h. 

George  Eagles  was  a  man  of  small  learning,  and  by 
occupation  a  tailor  ;   but  God,  who  often  chooses  the  weak 


GEORGE    EAGLES,  259 

and  base  things  of  the  world  by  whom  to  magnify  his 
great  power,  gifted  this  poor  artisan  with  such  heavenly 
wisdom  and  eloquence,  that  he  became  a  teacher  of  many. 
It  was  in  the  bright  and  happy  days  of  blessed  young  Ed- 
ward that  Eagles  first  exercised  this  gift;  and  when  all 
became  dark  and  dangerous  he  ceased  not,  but  wandered 
abroad  through  the  land,  seeking  out  the  dispersed  sheep  of 
the  Lord's  pasture,  in  order  to  comfort  and  strengthen  them 
in  the  faith.  So  constantly  was  he  seen  thus  employed, 
now  lodging  in  a  town,  now  lying  in  fields  and  woods, 
that  he  obtained  the  nickname  of  Trudgeover.  His  diet 
was  spare  and  simple  in  the  extreme,  water  being  his  only 
drink;  and  not  only  while  compelled  by  persecution  so  to 
do,  but  at  times  when  he  might  have  fared  better,  he  chose 
to  inure  himself  to  hardship  by  such  privations.  For  some 
years  the  enemy  had  been  actively  trying  to  lay  hold  on 
Eagles,  and  those  who  resorted  to  his  society  ;  but,  by  God's 
providence,  they  were  long  able  to  elude  their  adversaries, 
hiding  themselves  in  thickets,  barns,  holes,  and  whereso- 
ever they  could  creep  for  shelter.  At  last  an  edict  was 
issued  by  the  unhappy  queen,  and  proclaimed  through  Nor- 
folk, SutFolk,  Essex,  and  Kent,  offering  twenty  pounds,  a 
good  sum  in  those  days,  to  any  one  who  would  apprehend 
George  Eagles.  This  set  many  upon  devising  plans  to  en- 
trap him,  and  at  length  they  succeeded.  He  was  seen  at  a 
fair,  or  mart,  kept  at  Colchester,  and  would  then  have  been 
seized  had  he  not  escaped,  first  to  a  grove,  thence  to  a 
field  of  standing  corn,  where  he  lay  down,  concealed,  until 
his  pursuers,  giving  up  all  hope  of  discovering  him,  were 
obliged  to  depart.  One  of  them,  however,  more  subtle  or 
more  covetous  than  the  rest,  staid  behind  and  mounted  a 
high  tree,  to  look  about  for  his  victim.  Eagles,  supposing 
all  to  be  now  safe,  rose  to  his  knees,  and  lifting  up  his 
hands,  prayed  to  God.  The  lurking  enemy  either  saw  or 
heard  him ;  and,  descending  from  the  tree,  suddenly  laid 
hold  on  him,  and  brought  him  into  Colchester  a  prisoner. 
He  was,  however,  disappointed  of  the  expected  reward, 
getting  only  a  trifling  sum,  and  hardly  obtaining  that. 

Eagles,  followed  by  the  lamentations  of  all  devout  peo- 
ple, and  amid  great  sorrow  of  the  church  of  Christ,  was 
committed,  first  to  the  castle  of  Colchester,  and,  after  four 
days,  sent  to  Chelmsford,  where  he  passed  the  night  in 
prayer,  not  sleeping,  and  taking  only  bread  and  water;  and 
next  day  was  removed  to  London,  to  be  brought  before  the 


260  GEORGK    EAGLES. 

bishop,  or  the  council,  who  sent  him  back  to  Chelmsford, 
to  take  his  trial  for  treason.  The  act  on  which  they  in- 
dicted him  was  the  same  whereby  the  duke  of  Somerset 
had  been  made  way  with  :  it  provided,  that  if  men,  above 
the  number  of  six,  should  secretly  assemble  together,  they 
should  be  attached  as  traitors  against  the  state.  It  pleased 
the  sanguinary  persecutors  to  vary  their  favourite  amuse- 
ment of  butchery,  and  to  put  this  victim  to  a  dreadful  death, 
without  the  aid  of  fire:  cloaking,  too,  their  religious  zeal 
for  once  under  an  affectation  of  loyal  devotion  to  the  civil 
laws.  Eagles  made  a  full  and  bold  confession  of  his  faith, 
proving  himself  to  be  what  they  accounted  a  pestilent  he- 
retic, but  by  no  means  could  he  induce  them  to  transfer  the 
charge  to  that  ground.  The  indictment  accused  him  of 
having,  on  such  a  day,  made  a  prayer  that  God  would 
turn  queen  Mary's  heart,  or  else  take  her  away.  He  de- 
nied having  prayed  that  God  should  take  her  away;  but 
confessed  the  prayer  that  God  would  turn  her  heart.  How- 
ever, he  was  condemned  for  a  traitor,  and  the  sentence 
pronounced  that  he  should  be  hanged,  drawn,  and  quar- 
tered. 

When  the  time  came,  he  was  laid  on  a  hurdle,  as  good 
lord  Cobham  had  been,  and  drawn  to  the  place  of  execu- 
tion, fettered,  with  a  psalm-book  in  his  hand,  from  which  he 
devoutly  read,  with  a  loud  voice,  all  the  way  along.  Two 
thieves  were  condemned  to  suffer  with  him ;  and  to  them 
he  addressed  much  earnest  exhortation,  which  one  of  them 
received  with  a  mocking  scorn,  saying,  "  Why  should  we 
doubt  to  obtain  heaven,  forasmuch  as  this  holy  man  shall 
go  before  us,  as  captain  and  leader  unto  us  in  the  way. 
We  shall  flee  thither  straight,  as  soon  as  he  hath  once  made 
us  the  entry."  Eagles,  and  also  his  companion,  strongly 
reproved  him ;  for  the  other  criminal  had  given  great  heed 
to  what  was  said,  and  earnestly  bewailed  his  own  wicked- 
ness, crying  to  Christ  for  mercy.  But  the  hardened  crea- 
ture could  by  no  means  be  silenced;  he  continued  to  scoff 
till  they  came  to  the  gallows,  and  Eagles  was  led  on  to  an- 
other place.  When  the  two  felons  ascended  the  ladder,  the 
repentant  one  went  first ;  and  having  exhorted  the  people 
against  transgressing  God's  laws,  he  committed  his  soul 
into  the  hands  of  the  Saviour,  whom  Eagles  seems  to  have 
been  sent  to  direct  him  to  in  this  extremity,  and  died  qui- 
etly. The  mocker's  turn  then  came ;  and  when  he  was 
called  on  to  put  up  a  dying  prayer,  he  was  found  to  be 


EICHARD    CRASHFIELD.  261 

suddenly  rendered  unable  to  utter  two  connected  words : 
though  the  under-sheriff  even  repeated  the  Lord's  prayer 
for  him,  bidding  him  follow  him  in  it,  he  could  not;  his 
tongue  was  paralyzed ;  and  with  a  few  muttered  sounds, 
quite  unintelligible,  he  ended  his  course. 

This  produced  a  strong  effect  on  the  people ;  they  saw 
the  just  judgment  of  God  on  one  who  had  scorned  and 
mocked  the  preacher  of  his  truth ;  while  the  change  wrought 
in  the  other  criminal  appeared  a  striking  testimony  of  that 
preacher's  blessedness.  We  cannot  enter  into  the  details 
of  George  Eagles'  cruel  murder:  aggravated  by  all  that 
the  wantonness  of  the  tormentors  could  inflict.  He  died 
calmly,  uncomplainingly,  and  in  the  full  assurance  of 
faith. 

The  bailiff  who  had  drawn  him  to  execution,  and  had 
most  barbarously  butchered  him  with  his  own  hands,  was 
soon  after  stricken  with  a  frightful  leprosy;  and  at  the  time 
Fox  wrote  the  story,  was  a  beggar,  with  all  belonging  to 
him. 

At  Norwich,  about  the  same  time,  suffered  a  godly  man 
named  Richard  Ceasiifield,  of  Wymondham.  Dunning, 
the  savage  chancellor  examined  him  in  his  usual  strain  of 
overbearing  insolence,  beginning  with,  "  How  say  you, 
sirrah,  to  the  ceremonies  of  the  church?"  After  drawing 
from  him  a  confession  of  orthodox  faith,  he  remanded  him 
till  the  following  day,  then  rehearsed  the  words  that  Crash- 
field  had  spoken,  asking  if  they  were  not  his  ?  to  which  he 
assented.  Then  said  Dunning,  "  How  say  you,  can  you 
not  find  in  your  heart,  when  you  come  to  the  church,  to 
kneel  down  before  the  rood,  and  make  your  prayer?" 
Crashfield  answered,  "  No  ;"  and  repeated  the  second  com- 
mandment. "  Have  you  not  read  or  heard,"  said  the 
chancellor,  "  that  God  commanded  an  image  to  be  made?" 
Crashfield  asked,  "  What  image?"  He  replied,  "  The  bra- 
zen serpent."  "  Yes,"  said  the  martyr,  "  I  have  heard  it 
read  how  that  God  did  command  it  to  be  made,  and  like- 
wise to  be  broken  down."  Dr.  Bridges  then  asked, 
"  Wherefore  did  God  command  the  seraphims  and  cheru- 
bims  to  be  made?"  He  said  he  could  not  tell,  and  would 
fain  learn.  The  chancellor  said,  "  Can  you  find  in  your 
heart  to  fall  down  before  the  picture  of  Christ,  which  is  the 
rood  ?"  He  answered,  "  No,  I  fear  the  curse  of  God  :  for 
it  is  written  that  God  curseth  the  hands  that  make  them, 
yea,  and  the  hands  that  make  the  tools  wherewith  they  are 


262  RICHARD    CRASHFIELD. 

carved."  This  made  Dr.  Bridges  very  angry,  who  said, 
"List  now,  what  a  piece  of  scripture  he  hath  here  gotten 
to  serve  his  purpose;  for  he  will  not  allow  but  where  he 
listeth."  The  chancellor  next  asked  him  what  he  said  to 
confession  to  the  priest :  when  was  he  last  confessed  ?  He 
replied,  "  I  confess  myself  daily  unto  the  eternal  God, 
whom  I  most  grievously  offend."  "  Do  you  not  then  take 
coniession  to  the  priest  to  be  good  1"  inquired  Dunning. 
"  No,  but  rather  wicked."  He  was  next  asked  about  the 
music  of  their  church,  which  he  also  disapproved,  as  not 
being  the  right  use  of  spiritual  songs  and  hymns,  com- 
manded in  the  scripture. 

A  day  or  two  after  this.  Bridges  was  sent  to  the  prison 
to  examine  him,  who  began  by  saying  that  the  lord  bishop, 
in  his  love,  had  sent  him,  because  the  morrow  being  Crash- 
field's  appointed  day,  he  did  not  wish  them  to  have  much 
ado  with  him.  Crashfield  replied  that  it  was  not  to  him  he 
was  much  disposed  to  show  his  mind  :  but  Bridges  desired 
him  to  say  what  he  thought  of  the  sacrament  of  the  altar ; 
assuring  him  that  unless  he  believed  as  the  church  had 
taught,  he  was  condemned  both  body  and  soul.  Crashfield 
answered,  "  Judge  not,  lest  you  be  judged  ;  condemn  not, 
lest  you  be  condemned."  "  Lo,"  cried  Bridges,  "  we  shall 
have  a  traitor  as  well  as  a  heretic ;  for  he  will  disallow  the 
king's  judgment."  "  No,"  said  Crashfield,  "  I  do  not  dis- 
allow the  king's  judgment ;  but  yours  I  do  disallow.  For 
I  pray  you  tell  me,  how  came  you  by  this  judgment?"  Dun- 
ning answered,  "By  the  church  :  for  the  church  hath  power 
to  save  and  condemn:  for  if  you  be  condemned  by  the 
church,  be  ye  sure  that  you  are  damned  both  body  and  soul." 
"  If  you  have  this  power,"  returned  the  martyr,  "  I  am 
sore  deceived ;  for  I  believe  that  Christ  shall  be  our  judge. 
But  now  I  perceive  you  will  do  so  much  for  him,  that  you 
will  not  put  him  to  the  pain."  After  some  disputation  con- 
cerning those  who  murmured  at  our  Lord's  saying,  in 
the  sixth  of  John,  when  the  doctor,  as  usual,  was  opposed 
to  the  true  reading,  he  asked  Crashfield,  "  What  shall  I 
tell  my  lord  of  you  ?"  To  which  he  replied,  "  If  you 
have  nothing  to  tell  him,  your  errand  shall  be  sooner 
done." 

On  the  Tuesday  after  this,  Crashfield  was  brought  before 
Dunning  and  others,  for  a  final  examination.  They  went 
over  the  question  of  the  sacrament,  in  which  he  differed  no- 
thing from  the  martyrs  who  had  gone  before  himj  only  he 


MRS.  LEWES.  263 

made  a  striking  remark  on  the  subject  of  the  priest's  as- 
sumed power  of  offering  up  Christ's  body  in  sacrifice,  in 
the  mass :  he  said,  "  Christ  saith,  '  I  give  my  life  for  the 
redemption  of  the  world.  No  man  taketh  my  life  from  me, 
saith  he,  but  I  give  it  of  my  own  power ;  and  so  I  have 
power  to  take  it  again.'  Therefore  Christ,  the  Son  of  God, 
did  offer  his  body  once  for  all.  And  if  you  will  presume 
to  offer  his  body  daily,  then  your  power  is  above  Christ's 
power."  This  put  the  judges  into  a  chafe ;  and  they  lost 
no  time  in  condemning  him ;  after  which  he  was  soon 
brought  to  the  stake,  ending  his  testimony  with  his  life  in 
glorious  martyrdom. 

At  Rochester,  at  the  same  time,  they  laid  hold  on  a  man 
named  Fryer,  and  a  woman  who  was  a  sister  of  George 
Eagles,  and  burnt  them  together,  for  resisting  the  wicked 
doctrine  of  Antichristian  Rome. 

Then  followed  the  martyrdom  of  a  most  interesting  per- 
son. This  was  Mrs,  Joyce  Lewes,  of  Mancetter,  the  birth- 
place of  the  Glovers,  whose  especial  friend  she  was.  Mrs. 
Lewes  had  been  delicately  brought  up,  delighting  in  gay 
apparel,  and  all  the  vanities  of  the  higher  rank  of  society, 
to  which  she  belonged.  She  was  twice  married  ;  her  first 
husband  being  a  gentleman  named  Appleby;  the  second 
Thomas  Lewes.  She  went  to  mass,  and  did  as  others,  in 
the  beginning  of  Mary's  reign;  but  on  hearing  the  particu- 
lars of  the  burning  of  that  holy  man  Lawrence  Saunders, 
at  Coventry,  she  began  to  give  some  heed  to  the  great  mat- 
ter of  religion,  earnestly  inquiring  of  those  who  she  knew 
feared  God,  the  cause  of  Saunders'  death.  She  found  it 
was  for  refusing  to  attend  mass ;  and  this  made  her  anxi- 
ous and  unquiet.  The  house  was  close  by  John  Glover's, 
and  to  him  she  very  often  resorted,  requesting  him  to  show 
her  what  was  wrong  in  the  mass,  and  in  the  other  things 
that  were  urged  as  being  necessary  to  salvation. 

Glover,  perceiving  both  the  disturbed  state  of  her  mind, 
and  her  earnest  desire  to  know  the  truth,  diligently  instruct- 
ed her  in  the  ways  of  the  Lord;  not  only  showing,  from 
his  word,  that  the  mass  and  all  other  popisli  inventions  were 
odious  in  God's  sight,  but  also  reproving  in  her  the  love  of 
the  world  and  its  sinful  follies.  Under  his  godly  instruc- 
tion, the  Lord  working  thereby  a  thorough  conviction  of 
her  lost  estate  by  nature,  and  her  manifold  transgressions, 
she  grew  in  grace,  renouncing  all  that  before  had  been  so 
ensnaring  to  her,  and  showing  the  most  earnest  desire  to 


264  MRS.    LEWES. 

devote  herself  in  all  things  to  God  ;  whose  love  was  large- 
ly shed  abroad  in  her  heart.  As  a  necessary  consequence 
of  spiritual  knowledge  and  true  faith,  she  began  to  hate  the 
mass,  as  an  evil  and  abominable  thing.  Her  husband, 
however,  was  a  furious  bigot ;  and  when  his  violence  con- 
strained her  to  attend  the  church,  she  could  not  endure  the 
sprinkling  of  what  they  call  holy  water,  considering  it  to 
be  injurious  to  the  blood  of  Christ.  So  she  turned  her  back 
upon  the  sprinkler ;  and  for  this  was  accused  to  the  bishop, 
as  one  who  despised  the  sacraments,  A  citation  was  im- 
mediately sent,  commanding  her  to  appear  forthwith  before 
the  bishop ;  but  her  husband,  to  whom  it  was  delivered, 
became  enraged,  and  told  the  summoner  that  if  he  did  not 
directly  take  it  back,  he  would  oblige  him  to  eat  it.  The 
officer  refusing  to  withdraw  it,  the  intemperate  man  pre- 
sently held  a  dagger  to  his  heart,  and  in  that  way  compel- 
led him  to  swallow  the  paper,  and  afterwards  to  drink  to 
what  he  had  eaten :  then  sent  him  away,  Lewes  and  his 
wife  were,  of  course,  peremptorily  commanded  to  appear 
before  the  bishop;  when  the  gentleman  found  means,  by  a 
full  submission  and  apology,  to  obtain  pardon,  on  condition 
that  his  wife  should  also  submit  herself:  but  she  stoutly 
told  the  bishop  that  by  refusing  the  holy  water,  she  had 
neither  offended  God  nor  any  part  of  his  laws.  This  griev- 
ously displeased  him ;  but  in  consideration  of  her  being  a 
gentlewoman,  he  would  not,  as  he  said,  take  her  at  the 
worst ;  so  gave  her  a  month's  respite,  binding  her  husband, 
under  a  penalty  of  a  hundred  pounds,  to  bring  her  again 
before  him  at  the  end  of  that  time.  They  were  then  both 
allowed  to  depart. 

Mrs.  Lewes  now  gave  herself  to  prayer,  with  increased 
diligence,  calling  upon  the  Lord  without  ceasing,  and  resort- 
ing still  to  John  Glover,  who  carefully  instructed  her  in 
God's  word,  exhorting  her  above  all  things  to  do  nothing 
in  a  spirit  of  vain  glory,  or  for  the  hope  of  getting  herself 
a  name :  for  that  the  danger  was  extreme,  if  she  should 
engage  in  the  cause  otherwise  than  as  Christ  himself  might 
lead  her.  She  was,  however,  so  taught  of  God  in  the  mat- 
ter, that  the  event  could  be  no  other  than  martyrdom. 

When  the  month  was  nearly  expired,  and  the  time  drew 
very  near  for  her  appearance  before  the  bishop,  Mr,  Glover 
and  others  earnestly  entreated  her  husband  not  to  take  her 
to  certain  destruction,  but  to  seek  some  way  of  saving  her; 
or,  at  the  worst,  to  forfeit  the  penalty,  rather  than  to  cast 


MRS.    LEWES.  265 

his  own  wife  into  the  fire.  To  this  he  answered  that  he 
would  not  lose  or  forfeit  any  thing  for  her  sake ;  and  so, 
with  the  spirit  of  a  murderer,  he  carried  her  to  the  cruel 
bishop,  who  examined  her,  and  found  her  more  firm  and 
resolute  than  she  was  before.  He  threatened  her  with 
death;  and  for  a  beginning  of  her  troubles,  sent  her  to  such 
a  loathsome  prison,  that  a  maid-servant  who  was  appointed 
to  attend  her  there,  fainted  away  through  the  intolerable 
stench  of  the  place.  In  this  dungeon  was  the  lady  long 
kept,  who  found  it,  with  the  presence  of  Christ,  far  sweeter 
than  all  the  luxurious  delicacies  in  which  she  once  delight- 
ed had  ever  been. 

Many  times  was  Mrs.  Lewes  examined  by  the  persecu- 
tors; but  as  she  grew  in  grace  and  in  the  knowledge  of  her 
Saviour,  she  increased  in  boldness  and  constancy;  so  that, 
after  a  long  while,  she  was  brought  up  for  judgment.  The 
bishop  attempted  once  more  to  move  her,  reasoning,  and 
asking  her  why  she  could  not  come  to  the  mass,  to  receive 
the  sacraments  and  sacramentals  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  She 
replied,  "  Because  I  find  not  these  things  in  God's  word, 
which  you  so  urge  and  magnify  as  things  most  needful  for 
men's  salvation.  If  these  things  were  in  the  same  word 
of  God  commanded,  I  would  with  all  my  heart  receive, 
esteem,  and  believe  them."  The  bishop  then  said,  "  If 
thou  wilt  believe  no  more  than  is  in  the  scripture  concern- 
ing matters  of  salvation,  thou  art  in  a  damnable  case." 
At  this  shocking  declaration  she  appeared  very  much 
amazed;  and,  moved  by  the  Spirit  of  God  to  rebuke  such 
blasphemy  against  the  revelation  of  his  holy  will,  told  the 
bishop  that  his  words  were  ungodly  and  wicked. 

Sentence  was  then  passed  on  her,  and  she  was  delivered 
to  the  sheriff  to  be  put  to  death:  but  he,  affirming  that  no 
one  should  compel  him  to  commit  such  a  deed,  and  being 
also  recently  chosen  to  the  office,  she  continued  during  a 
whole  year  in  prison,  until  his  shrievalty  expired.  For  this 
his  own  life  was  endangered  ;  and  he  suffered  great  trouble 
and  persecution  while  the  evil  party  continued  in  power. 
Her  long  imprisonment  was  overruled  to  the  good  of  many; 
for  such  was  the  feeling  excited  by  her  deportment  there, 
that  all  who  were  not  utterly  hardened  against  every  good 
impression,  bitterly  lamented  her  sufferings ;  and  must  of 
necessity  have  abhorred  the  cruelty  that  inflicted  them,  and 
the  accursed  root  of  error  whence  it  sprung.  At  length 
the  appointment  of  another  sheriff"  brought  deliverance  near 

MARTYROLOGY. VOL.  II.  23 


266  MKS.    LEWES. 

to  this  persecuted  child  of  God.  The  writ  de  comburendo, 
as  they  called  it,  was  fetched  down  from  London,  and  she, 
hearing  it,  summoned  some  of  her  friends  to  meet  in  her 
prison,  that  they  might  together  consult  how  she  should  so 
behave  herself  on  the  occasion  as  to  render  her  death  most 
glorious  to  the  name  of  God  ;  most  comfortable  to  his  peo- 
ple, and  discouraging  to  his  enemies.  "  As  for  death,"  said 
she,  "  I  do  not  greatly  regard  it :  when  I  behold  the  amia- 
ble countenance  of  Christ  my  dear  Saviour,  the  ugly  face 
of  death  does  not  greatly  trouble  me."  She  seemed  to  draw 
great  consolation  from  a  very  full  and  rich  assurance  of 
God's  love,  in  electing  her  to  eternal  life. 

On  the  evening  preceding  the  day  appointed  for  her 
slaughter,  two  priests  repaired  to  the  house  of  the  under- 
sheriff,  where  she  then  lay,  and  sent  him  to  inform  her  that 
they  were  come  to  hear  her  confession ;  as  they  would  be 
sorry  that  she  should  die  without  making  it.  She  sent  them 
word,  in  answer,  that  she  had  made  her  confession  to  Christ 
her  Saviour  ;  at  whose  hands  she  was  sure  to  have  forgive- 
ness of  her  sins.  And  as  concerned  the  cause  for  which 
she  was  to  die,  she  had  no  reason,  she  said,  to  confess  that, 
but  rather  to  give  unto  God  most  humble  praise,  that  he 
did  make  her  worthy  to  suffer  death  for  his  word  ;  and  as 
for  any  absolution  that  ihey  were  able  to  give  to  her,  by  the 
pope's  authority,  she  defied  it  from  the  bottom  of  her  heart. 
This  message  the  sheriff  repeated  to  the  priests,  who  ob- 
served :  "Well,  to-morrow  her  stoutness  will  be  proved 
and  tried ;  for  although,  perhaps,  she  hath  now  some 
friends  that  whisper  her  in  the  ear,  to-morrow  we  will  see 
who  dare  be  so  hardy  as  to  come  near  her."  And  away 
they  went,  in  no  small  anger  at  having  their  confession  and 
absolution  thus  set  at  nought.  During  that  evening  the  mar- 
tyr was  wonderfully  cheerful  and  animated ;  yet  with  a 
mixture  of  such  holy  seriousness  as  showed  the  majesty  of 
the  Spirit  of  God  working  in  her  to  glorify  Him.  All  fear 
was  expelled:  death  had  no  terrors  for  her;  and  the  time 
was  happily  spent  in  praying,  reading,  and  conversing  with 
the  friends  who  purposely  came  to  comfort  and  strengthen 
her  out  of  the  word  of  God. 

But  about  three  o'clock  in  the  morning,  Satan,  who  never 
sleeps,  and  who  is  particularly  busy  with  the  Lord's  people 
on  the  approach  of  death,  began  to  assail  her,  by  shooting 
the  same  fiery  dart  wherewith  he  had  grievously  harassed 
Robert  Glover  under  the  same  circumstances.    He  put  her 


MRS.    LEWES,  267 

upon  questioning  how  she  could  tell  that  she  was  chosen  to 
eternal  life,  and  that  Christ  died  for  her.  "  I  grant  that  he 
died,"  was  the  thought  suggested ;  "  but  that  he  died  for 
thee,  how  canst  thou  tell  ?"  It  is,  perhaps,  a  natural  con- 
sequence of  so  much  exercise  in  those  matters  which  are 
too  high  for  us,  and  limiting  within  bounds  of  man's  fixing, 
the  efficacy  of  the  Redeemer's  sacrifice,  that  those  who  do 
it  should  at  times  be  perplexed  as  to  their  personal  accep- 
tance before  God,  even  when  lying  low  at  the  foot  of  that 
cross  where  none  ever  perished ;  and  John  Glover,  her 
principal  teacher,  had  been  well  nigh  drowned  in  despair 
by  venturing  beyond  his  depth  in  those  matters.  Be  that 
as  it  may,  Mrs.  Lewes  felt  the  same  terrors;  but  some  of 
her  friends  gave  her  wise  counsel,  referring  her  not  to  the 
inscrutable  decrees  of  the  Most  High,  but  to  her  own  expe- 
rience of  his  love  to  her  soul,  in  calling  her  to  the  know- 
ledge of  himself  in  his  blessed  word ;  and  also  to  the  evi- 
dent working  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  her  heart,  producing  a 
love  to  God,  a  desire  to  please  him,  and  a  wish  to  be  justi- 
fied  by  him,  through  the  righteousness  of  his  Son.  By 
these  arguments  and  persuasions,  with  many  promises 
drawn  fi'om  the  Scriptures,  the  enemy  was  driven  back, 
and  comfort  restored  to  her  soul. 

At  eight  o'clock  the  sheriff  entered  her  room,  and  thus 
bluntly  addressed  her  : — "  Mrs.  Lewes,  1  am  come  to  bring 
you  tidings  of  the  queen's  pleasure,  the  which  is,  that  you 
shall  live  no  longer  but  one  hour  in  this  world  ;  therefore 
prepare  yourself  thereto  ;  it  standeth  you  in  hand."  The 
suddenness  of  the  announcement,  so  rudely,  grossly,  and 
unfeelingly  made,  by  an  officer  of  his  authority,  somewhat 
disconcerted  the  martyr,  who  seemed  for  a  moment  dis- 
mayed ;  but  one  of  her  friends  standing  by,  immediately 
said,  "  Mrs.  Lewes,  you  have  great  cause  to  praise  God, 
who  will  vouchsafe  so  speedily  to  take  you  out  of  this  world, 
and  make  you  worthy  to  be  a  witness  of  his  truth,  and  to 
bear  record  unto  Christ  that  he  is  the  only  Saviour."  These 
seasonable  words  at  once  revived  her;  and  she  said,  "Mas- 
ter sheriff,  your  message  is  welcome  to  me,  and  I  thank  my 
God  that  he  will  make  me  worthy  to  adventure  my  life  in 
his  quarrel."  The  sheriff  then  departed;  and  returning 
within  an  hour  with  weapons  and  attendants,  went  to  the 
chamber  to  fetch  his  willing  victim.  One  of  her  friends 
requested  permission  to  go  with  her  to  the  stake,  there 
to  comfort  her;  and  for  granting  this  indulgence  the  sheriff 


268  MRS.    LEWES. 

was  afterwards  greatly  accused  and  troubJed  :  for  there  was 
no  crime  more  unpardonable  in  the  sight  of  Christ's  ene- 
mies than  that  of  showing  common  humanity  to  his  suffer- 
ing servants. 

The  lady  was  led  through  the  town,  guarded  by  many 
billmen,  in  the  sight  of  a  great  multitude  of  people,  by  two 
faithful  friends,  M.  Michael  Reniger,  and  that  blessed  suc- 
courer  of  God's  poor  hunted  sheep,  Augustine  Bernher. 
She  came  to  the  place  of  execution;  but  the  fresh  air  prov- 
ing too  overpowering  after  her  very  long  confinement  in  a 
close  prison,  she  became  faint,  and  one  of  her  friends  sent 
to  the  sheriff's  house  for  some  drink.  Before  taking  the 
cup  into  her  hand  this  bold  and  fervent  confessor  prayed 
thrice  and  loudly,  that  God  would  most  instantly  abolish 
the  idolatrous  mass,  and  deliver  the  realm  from  papistry; 
at  which  nearly  all  the  people  present  cried  out,  amen  ; 
yea,  the  very  sheriff  who  stood  by,  ready  to  cast  her  into 
the  fire  for  not  allowing  the  mass,  uttered  a  distinct  amen 
to  her  prayer  for  its  instant  destruction.  She  then  receiv- 
ed the  cup  at  her  friend's  hand,  and  said,  "  I  drink  to  all 
them  that  unfeignedly  love  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ,  and 
wish  for  the  abolishment  of  papistry."  When  she  had 
drunk,  her  friend  did  the  same ;  and  very  many  especially 
the  women  of  the  place,  pressed  round  to  take  the  cup, 
and  pledge  her  in  the  sentiment  that  she  had  uttered.  For 
this  they  were  severely  plagued  by  the  cruel  papists;  but 
no  enemy  could  hinder  the  prayer  of  his  persecuted  saints 
from  entering  into  the  ears  of  the  Lord  God  of  Sabaoth. 
He  prompted  the  petition,  for  it  was  his  merciful  purpose 
soon  to  answer  it :  for  which  be  His  holy  name  blessed  and 
praised  evermore ! 

The  martyr  was  chained  to  the  stake,  and  showed  at  the 
time  such  cheerfulness  as  none  could  account  for :  it  pro- 
ceeded from  the  peace  which  passeth  all  understanding. 
She  had  also,  even  after  her  long  and  wasting  imprison- 
ment, so  bright  a  colour  in  her  cheek,  and  showed  such 
perfect  patience,  that  all  who  had  any  feeling  left,  lamented 
with  tears  the  merciless  tyranny  of  those  blood-thirsty  men. 
When  the  fire  reached  her,  she  neither  struggled  nor  mov- 
ed, but  just  lifted  up  her  hands  to  heaven,  and  was  dead 
almost  immediately;  for  the  under  sheriff  had,  at  the  re- 
quest of  her  friends,  provided  such  materials  for  the  fire 
as  ensured  her  speedy  dispatch.  It  was  always  in  the 
power  of  the  murderers  to  shorten,  if  they  chose  it,  the  suf- 


RALPH    ALLERTON.  269 

ferings  of  Iheir  victims :  how  far  they  were  pleased  to  do 
this,  let  the  lingering  torments  of  which  we  have  been  com- 
pelled to  give  recital  declare.  It  will  be  a  fearful  day 
when  God  returns  to  the  great  mother  of  harlots  and  abo- 
minations of  the  earth  the  cup  that  she  filled  for  his  saints, 
and  fills  it  to  her  double,  as  he  has  declared  that  he  will 
do! 

The  miserable  instruments  of  Satan's  malice  hired  others 
to  be  the  ministers  of  their  own,  by  railing  at  and  reviling 
this  innocent  and  godly  lady,  both  on  her  way  to  execu- 
tion, and  when  she  came  to  the  stake.  Among  these  was 
an  old  priest  who  took  out  tablets,  to  note  down  the  names 
of  such  as  drank  with  Mrs.  Lewes;  and  when  he  could  not 
discover  the  names  of  any  of  her  friends,  he  wrote  out  a 
description  of  their  apparel  which  afterwards  helped  him  to 
ascertain  who  they  were.  By  this  means,  processes  were 
drawn  out,  and  sent  after  them  to  Coventry,  and  other 
places;  but  the  wrath  of  man  could  go  no  step  beyond  the 
limits  assigned  by  the  Most  High,  and  through  his  mercy 
they  all  escaped. 

Soon  after  this  butchery,  four  martyrs  were  burned  at 
Islington.  The  first  of  these  was  Ralph  Allerton,  no 
regular  minister,  but  a  preacher  of  the  gospel,  who  coming 
into  his  own  parish  of  Bentley,  and  seeing  the  people  per- 
fectly idle,  gazing  about  or  gossiping  together,  exhorted 
them  to  fall  to  prayer,  and  to  meditate  on  God's  holy  word. 
They  willingly  consented :  and  he,  to  help  them  therein, 
led  the  prayer,  and  read  a  chapter  in  the  New  Testament, 
and  so  departed.  In  this  exercise  he  continued  from  time  to 
time,  until  being  told  that  he  could  not  lawfully  do  so,  not  be- 
ing regularly  ordained,  he  left  off  doing  it,  and  kept  close 
in  his  own  house.  However,  he  was  there  visited  by  some 
informers,  or  sworn  men,  who  attacked  him  for  reading 
publicly;  but  finding  that  he  had  not  done  so  since  he  was 
cautioned,  and  also  that  he  had  earnestly  exhorted  the  peo- 
ple to  obedience,  they  let  him  go.  Notwithstanding,  he  so 
well  knew  the  danger,  that  he  left  his  house,  and  concealed 
himself  in  woods,  and  other  obscure  places,  until  the  search- 
ers discovered  and  apprehended  him.  Lord  Darcy  sent 
him,  after  an  examination,  to  the  council  ;  and  they,  to  save 
themselvestrouble,  made  him  over  to  Bonner,  who,  by  threats 
and  other  means  so  wrought  upon  his  mind,  that  he  was  in- 
duced to  revoke  and  recant  publicly,  at  Paul's  cross,  the  truths 
which  he  had  held  and  taught.     This  brought  freedom  to 

23* 


270  RALPH    ALLERTON. 

his  body,  but  laid  his  soul  and  conscience  in  such  a  bon- 
dage of  terror  and  despair,  that,  had  not  the  immeasurable 
mercy  of  God,  who  never  suffers  his  elect  children  utterly 
to  fall,  interposed  to  restore  him,  he  must  soon  have  sunk 
under  it,  and  have  perished  everlastingly.  The  Lord  did 
so  cast  his  gracious  eye  upon  this  lost  sheep,  as  upon  Peter 
of  old  ;  and  after  exercising  him  with  fatherly  chastise- 
ment, once  more  raised  him  again  ;  adding  to  the  gift  of 
hearty  repentance  that  of  constancy  and  boldness  to  pro- 
fess, even  unto  death,  the  holy  name  and  glorious  gospel 
which  he  had  falsely  denied.  Tye,  the  priest  who  cruelly 
persecuted  the  Munts,  was  the  means  of  again  laying  hold 
on  their  neighbour,  Allerton,  and  once  more  sent  him  to 
Bonner. 

The  story  of  his  first  examination,  at  Fulham,  written 
with  his  own  hand,  in  blood,  for  lack  of  ink,  displays  Bon- 
ner, in  his  profane  coarseness,  and  the  prisoner  in  his  calm 
wisdom,  so  strikingly,  that  we  will  give  it  in  the  words  of 
the  latter;  omitting  only  some  epithets  applied  to  him  by 
the  bishop,  too  disgustingly  gross  and  low  to  be  repeated 
here.  Bonner  began,  "  Ah,  sirrah,  how  chanceth  it  that 
you  are  come  hither  again  on  this  fashion  ?  I  dare  say  thou 
art  accused  wrongfully."  Allerton  replied,  "  Yea,  my  lord, 
so  I  am.  For  if  I  were  guilty  of  such  things  as  I  am  ac- 
cused of,  then  I  would  be  very  sorry."  B.  "  By  St.  Mary, 
that  is  not  well  done.  But  let  me  hear,  art  thou  an  honest 
man?  for  if  I  can  prove  no  heresy  by  thee,  then  shall  thine 
accusers  do  thee  no  harm  at  all.  Go  to,  let  me  hear  thee; 
for  1  did  not  believe  the  tale  to  be  true."  A.  "  My  lord, 
who  did  accuse  me?  I  pray  you  let  me  know,  and  what  is 
mine  accusation,  that  I  may  answer  thereunto."  B.  "  Ah, 
wilt  thou  so?  Before  God,  if  thou  hast  not  dissembled,  then 
thou  needest  not  be  afraid,  nor  ashamed  to  answer  for  thy 
self.  But  tell  me  in  faith,  hast  thou  not  dissembled  ?"  A.  "  If 
I  cannot  have  my  accusers  to  accuse  me  before  you,  my 
conscience  doth  constrain  me  to  accuse  myself  before  you: 
for  I  confess  that  I  have  grievously  offended  God  in  my 
dissimulation,  at  my  last  being  before  your  lordship  :  for  the 
which  I  am  right  sorry,  as  God  knoweth."  B.  "  Wherein, 
I  pray  thee,  didst  thou  dissemble,  when  thou  wast  before 
me?"  A.  "Forsooth,  my  lord,  if  your  lordship  remember, 
I  did  set  my  hand  upon  a  certain  writing,  the  contents 
whereof,  as  I  remember,  were,  that  I  did  believe  in  all  things 
as  the  catholic  church  teacheth,  &c.     In  the  which  I  did 


RALPH    ALLERTON.  271 

not  disclose  my  mind,  but  shamefully  dissembled,  because 
1  made  no  difference  between  the  true  church  and  the  un- 
true church."     B.  "  Nay,  but  I  pray  thee  let  me  hear  more 
of  this  gear ;  for  I  fear  me  thou  wilt  smell  of  a  heretic,  anon. 
Which  is  the  true  church,  as  thou  sayest?    Dost  thou  not 
call  the  heretic  church  the  true  church,  or  the  catholic 
church  of  Christ?     Now  which  of  these  two  is  the  true 
church,  sayest  thou?  Goto,  for  in  faith  I  will  know  of  thee 
ere  I  leave  thee."     A.  "  As  concerning  the  church  of  he- 
retics, I  utterly  abhor  the  same,  as  detestable  and  abomi- 
nable before  God,  with  all  their  enormities  and  heresies : 
and  the  church  catholic  is  it  that  I  only  embrace,  whose 
doctrine  is  sincere,  pure  and  true."     B.  "  By  St.  Augus- 
tine, but  that  is  well  said  of  thee:   for,  by  God  Almighty, 
if  thou  hadst  allowed  the  church  of  heretics,  I  would  have 
burned  thee  with  fire  for  thy  labour."  Here  a  priest,  named 
Morton,  said,  "  My  lord,  you  know  not  what  church  it  is 
that  he  calleth  catholic:  I  warrant  you,  he  meaneth  naugh- 
tily enough."  B.  "  Think  you  so?  Now,  by  our  blessed  lady, 
if  it  be  so  he  might  have  deceived  me.     How  say  you,  sir- 
rah; which  is  the  catholic  church?"    A.  "  Even  that  which 
hath  received  the  wholesome  sound,  spoken  of  by  Isaiah, 
David,  Malachi,  and  Paul,  with  many  other  more.     The 
which  sound,  as  it  is  written,  hath  gone  throughout  all  the 
earth  in  every  place,  and  unto  the  ends  of  the  world."  B. 
"  Yea,  thou  sayest  true,  before  God.     For  this  is  the  sound 
that  hath  gone  throughout  all  Christendom,  and  he  that  be- 
lieveth  not  the  sound  of  the  holy  church,  as  St.  Cyprian 
saith,  doth  err.     For  he  saith,  that  whosoever  is  out  of  the 
church  is  like  unto  them  that  were  out  of  Noah's  ship,  when 
the  flood  came  upon  the  whole  world;  so  that  the  ark  of 
Noah  is  likened  unto  the  church  :  and  therefore  thou   hast 
well  said  in  thy  confession.  For  the  true  church  is  not  alone 
in  Germany,  nor  was  here  in  England  in  the  time  of  the 
late  schisms,  as  the  heretics  do  affirm.     For  if  the  church 
should  be  there  alone,  then  were  Christ  a  liar ;  for  he  pro- 
mised that  the  Holy  Ghost  should  come  to  us  to  lead  us 
unto  all  truth,  yea,  and  remain  with  us  unto  the  end  of  the 
world.     So  now  if  we  will  take  Christ  for  a  true  sayer, 
then  must  we  needs  affirm  that  the  way  which  is  taught 
in  France,  Spain,  Italy,  Flanders,  Denmark,  Scotland,  and 
all  Christendom   over,   must   needs   be   the    true  catholic 
church."     A.  "  My  lord,  if  you  remember,  I  spake  of  all 
the  world,  as  it  is  written,  and  not  of  all  Christendom  only, 


272  RALPH   ALIERTON. 

as  methinks  your  lordship  taketh  it :  the  which  kind  of 
speaking  you  do  not  find  in  all  the  Bible.  For  sure  I  am, 
that  the  gospel  hath  been  both  preached  and  persecuted  in 
all  lands.  First  in  Jewry,  by  the  scribes  and  pharisees ; 
and  since  that  time  by  Nero,  Dioclesian,  and  such  like ; 
and  now  here  in  these  days,  by — your  lordship  knowelh 
whom.  For  truth  it  is  that  the  church  which  you  call  catho- 
lic, is  none  otherwise  catholic  than  was  figured  in  Cain, 
observed  of  Jeroboam,  Ahab,  Jezebel,  Nebuchadnezzar, 
Antiochus,  Herod,  and  innumerable  more  of  the  like:  and 
as  both  Daniel  and  Esdras  make  mention  of  these  last  days 
by  a  plain  prophecy,  and  now  fulfilled,  as  appeareth,  and 
affirmed  by  our  Saviour  Christ,  and  his  apostles,  saying, 
There  shall  come  grievous  wolves  to  devour  the  flock." 
B.  "  Now,  by  the  blessed  sacrament  of  the  altar,  Mr.  Mor- 
ton, he  is  the  rankest  heretic  that  ever  came  before  me ! 
How  say  you,  have  you  heard  the  like?"  Morton.  "I 
thought  what  he  was  at  the  first,  my  lord."  B.  "  Now, 
by  All-hallowes,  thou  shalt  be  burned  with  fire   for  thy 

lying;  thou (Here  he  reviled  him  foully.)    Dost  thou 

find  a  prophecy  in  Daniel  of  us?  Nay,  you  knave,  it  is 
you  that  he  speaketh  of,  and  of  your  false  pretended  holi- 
ness. Go  to,  let  me  hear  what  is  the  saying  of  Esdras ; 
and  take  heed  ye  make  not  a  lie,  I  advise  you."  A.  "  The 
saying  of  Esdras  is  this  :  '  The  heat  of  a  great  multitude  is 
kindled  over  you,  and  they  shall  take  away  certain  of  you, 
and  feed  the  idols  with  you;  and  he  that  consenteth  unto 
them  shall  be  had  in  derision,  laughed  to  scorn,  and  trod- 
den under  foot:  yea,  they  shall  be  like  madmen,  for  they 
shall  spare  no  man;  they  shall  spoil  and  waste  such  as 
fear  the  Lord.' "  B.  "  And  have  you  taken  this  thing  to 
make  your  market  good?  Ah,  sirrah,  wilt  thou  say  so? 
By  my  faith,  a  pretty  instruction,  and  a  necessary  thing 
to  be  taught  among  the  people!  By  my  troth,  I  think  there 
be  more  of  this  opinion.  I  pray  thee  tell  me,  is  there  any 
that  understandeth  this  scripture  on  this  fashion  ?  Before 
God,  I  think  there  be  none  in  all  England  but  thou."  A. 
"  Yes,  my  lord,  there  are  in  England  three  religions."  B. 
"  Sayest  thou  so?  which  be  those  three?"  A.  "  The  first 
is  that  which  you  hold  ;  the  second  is  clean  contrary  to  the 
same;  and  the  third  is  a  neuter,  being  indiflTerent;  that  is 
to  say,  observing  all  things  that  are  commanded  outward- 
ly, as  though  he  were  of  your  part,  his  heart  being  set 
wholly  against  the  same."    B.  "  And  of  these  three,  which 


RALPH  ALLERTON.  278 

art  thou?  for  now  thou  must  needs  be  of  one  of  them."  A. 
"  Yea,  my  lord,  I  am  of  one  of  them  ;  and  that  which  I  am 
of  is  even  that  which  is  contrary  to  that  which  you  teach 
to  be  believed,  under  pain  of  death."  B.  *'  Ah,  sir,  you 
were  here  with  me  at  Fulham,  and  had  good  cheer;  you  had 
money  in  your  purse  when  you  went  away;  and  by  my 
faith  I  had  a  favour  unto  thee ;  but  now  I  see  thou  wilt  be 
a  naughty  knave.  VVhy,  wilt  thou  take  upon  thee  to  read 
the  scripture,  and  canst  understand  never  a  word  1  For 
thou  hast  brought  a  text  of  scripture,  the  which  maketh 
clear  against  thee.  For  Esdras  speaketh  of  the  multitude 
of  you  heretics,  declaring  your  hate  against  the  catholic 
church,  making  the  simple  or  idle  people  believe  that  all  is 
idolatry  that  we  do,  and  so  entice  them  away  till  you  have 
overcome  them."  A.  "  Nay,  not  so,  my  Lord.  For  he 
maketh  it  more  plain,  and  saith  on  this  wise,  '  They  shall 
take  away  their  goods,  and  put  them  out  of  their  houses, 
and  then  shall  be  known  who  are  my  chosen,  saith  the 
Lord:  for  they  shall  be  tried,  even  as  silver  or  gold,  in  the 
fire.'  And  we  see  it  so  come  to  pass,  even  as  he  hath  said. 
For  who  is  not  now  driven  from  house  and  home ;  yea, 
and  his  goods  taken  up  for  other  men  that  never  toiled  for 
ihem,  if  he  do  not  observe  as  you  command  and  set  forth? 
Or  else,  if  he  be  taken,  then  must  he  either  deny  the  truth, 
as  I  did,  in  dissembling,  or  else  he  shall  be  sure  to  be  tried, 
as  Edras  saith,  even  as  gold  and  silver  is  tried,  in  the  fire. 
Wherefore  all  the  world  may  know  that  you  are  the  bloody 
church  figured  in  Cain  the  tyrant,  neither  yet  are  ye  able 
to  avoid  it." 

On  hearing  this,  Morton  said,  "  I  promise  you,  my  lord, 
I  like  him  better  now  than  ever  I  did  when  he  was  here  be- 
fore you  the  other  time.  For  then  he  did  but  dissemble,  as  I 
perceived  well  enough;  but  now  methinks  he  speaketh  plain- 
ly." Bonner  replied,  "Marry,  sir,  as  you  say,  indeed  he  is 
plain  ;  for  he  is  a  plain  heretic,  and  shall  be  burned.  Have 
the  knave  away;  let  him  be  carried  to  Little-ease  in  Lon- 
don, till  I  come."  So  Allerton  was  taken  to  that  dreary 
prison,  so  aptly  named  by  the  scoffing  persecutors  who  put 
up  the  Lord's  flock  in  it.  The  next  day  he  again  appear- 
ed before  Bonner,  who  had  with  him  the  dean  of  St.  Paul's, 
and  the  chancellor  of  London.  Some  writings  were  pro- 
duced, to  which  Allerton  had  set  his  hand,  and  which  he 
readily  acknowledged  to  be  his.  They  contained  the  con- 
fession of  his  faith,  and  he  firmly  maintained  it.     Tye,  the 


274  RALPH    ALLERTON. 

wicked  priest,  brought  a  long  list  of  false  and  frivolous 
charges  against  him,  which  he  easily  disposed  of,  showing 
the  malice  and  cruelly  that  had  prompted  them.  Bonner 
answered  his  vindication  of  himself,  by  saying,  "  Ah,  sir- 
rah, before  God  thou  shalt  be  burnt  with  fire.  Thou  know- 
est  Richard  Roth,  dost  thou  not?  Is  he  of  the  same  mind 
as  thou  art  of,  or  no?  Canst  thou  tell?"  Allerton  wisely 
replied  to  this  cunning  inquiry,  in  the  words  of  the  parents 
of  him  who  had  been  born  blind  :  "  He  is  of  age  to  answer, 
let  him  speak  for  himself;  for  I  hear  say  that  he  is  in  your 
house."  Bonner,  after  some  more  railing,  said,  "  Sirrah,  did 
you  not  set  your  hand  to  a  writing,  the  tenor  whereof  was, 
that  if  thou  shouldst  at  any  time  say  or  do  heretically,  then  it 
should  be  lawful  for  me  to  take  thee  with  a  relapse,  and  to 
proceed  in  sentence  against  thee?"  "Yea,  that  is  so," 
answered  Allerton.  "  But  here  it  is  to  be  asked  whether  it 
be  sufficient  that  my  hand  or  name  in  writing  be  able  to 
give  authority  to  you,  or  to  any  other,  to  kill  me?  For  if 
1,  by  writing,  can  do  so  much,  then  must  my  authority  be 
greater  than  yours.  Nevertheless,  I  have  neither  said  nor 
done  heretically ;  but  like  a  true  Christian  man  I  have  be- 
haved myself" 

A  fortnight  after  this,  he  was  again  brought  before  Bon- 
ner, lord  North,  Story,  and  others :  they  held  a  long  talk 
respecting  him  in  Latin  ,*  and  then  Bonner  put  to  him  this 
question  :  "  How  say  you,  sirrah,  tell  me  briefly,  at  one 
word,  wilt  thou  be  contented  to  go  to  Fulham  with  me,  and 
there  to  kneel  thee  down  at  mass,  showing  thyself  outward- 
ly as  though  thou  didst  it  with  a  good  will  ?  Go  to,  speak." 
Allerton  replied,  "I  will  not  say  so;"  and  then  Bonner 
cried  out,  "  Away  with  him,  away  with  him  !"  and  he  was 
taken  back  to  prison  for  another  week.  At  the  end  of  it, 
he  was  again  called  to  appear  before  this  bishop,  and  three 
noblemen  of  the  queen's  council.  After  some  boasting  of 
his  own  great  lenity  and  generosity,  Bonner  began  to  ques- 
tion him  respecting  their  idol  sacrament,  on  which  he  an- 
swered scripturally  and  truly.  In  the  course  of  the  dis- 
cussion, Bonner  brought  out  one  of  his  gross  illustrations, 
in  proof  of  the  rationality  of  his  church's  absurd  doctrine 
of  the  transubstantiated  wafer.  He  said,  "  I  will  show  thee 
a  parable.  If  I  should  set  a  piece  of  beef  before  thee,  and 
say.  Eat;  it  is  beef:  and  then  take  part  of  it  away,  and 
send  it  to  my  cook,  and  he  shall  change  the  fashion  there- 
of, and  make  it  look  like  bread ;  what,  wouldst  thou  say 


RA.LFH  AliliERTON.  275 

that  it  were  no  beef,  because  it  hath  not  the  fashion  of  beef?" 
Instead  of  reproving  his  coarse  simile,  as  others  had  done, 
Allerton  answered  the   fool  according  to  his   folly,  quietly- 
saying,  "Let  me  understand  a  little  further,  my  lord:  shall 
the  cook  add  nothing  thereto,  nor  take  any  thing  there- 
from ?"     Bonner  said,  "  What  is  that  to  the  matter,  whether 
he  do  or  no,  so  long  as  the  shape  is  changed  into  another 
likeness  ?"     The  martyr  having  thus  made  him  expose  the 
wretchedness  of  his  sophistry,  took  no  further  notice  of  it 
than  to  say   that  truth   would   have  the  victory ;    quoting 
some  texts,  which  induced   a  learned   doctor  to  observe, 
"  By  my  lord's  leave,  here  methinks  thou  speakest  like  a 
fool.    Wilt  thou  be  a  judge  of  the  scripture?   Nay,  thou  must 
stand  to  learn  and  not  to  teach ;  for  the  whole  congrega- 
tion hath  determined  the  matter  long  ago."     Here  a  priest 
hastily  interposed  :  "  No,  by  your  leave,  we  have  a  church 
and  not  a  congregation.     You   mistake  that  word,  master 
doctor."      Allerton,    turning  to   his    fellow-prisoners,  said, 
"  My  brethren,  do  ye  not  hear  how  these   men  help  one 
another  ?     Let  us  do  also."     But  the  persecutors  took  care 
they  should  not  have  opportunity  so  to  do :  for  they  seldom 
allowed  them  to  appear  together. 

Nearly  three  weeks  afterwards,  when  Allerton  was  again 
brought  before  Bonner,  he  had  with  him  the  Bishops  of  Ro- 
chester and  Chichester,  with  others.  Rochester  asked  him, 
"  Were  you  a  companion  of  George  Eagles,  otherwise  call- 
ed Trudgeover?  my  lord  of  London  telleth  me  that  you 
were  his  fellow-companion."  "  I  knew  him  very  well,  my 
lord,"  said  Allerton.  "  By  my  faiih,"  returned  the  bishop, 
"  I  had  him  once,  and  then  he  was  as  drunk  as  an  ape  ; 
for  he  stank  so  of  drink,  that  I  could  not  abide  him  and  so 
sent  him  away."  To  this  enormous  falsehood  Allerton  re- 
plied, "  My  lord,  I  dare  say  you  took  your  mark  amiss. 
It  was  either  yourself,  or  some  of  your  own  company;  for 
he  did  neither  drink  wine,  ale  or  beer,  in  a  quarter  of  a 
year  before  that  time  ;  and  therefore  it  was  not  he,  for- 
sooth." 

No  more  of  Allerton's  examinations  have  been  preserv- 
ed: but  it  appears  from  the  bishop's  register  that  they 
brought  many  articles  against  him,  some  founded  on  his 
doctrines,  some  on  letters  of  most  godly  import,  written  in 
blood,  to  his  friends  and  fellow-martyrs,  which  they  inter- 
cepted; and  the  rest  on  charges  so  utterly  absurd  and  tri- 
vial, such  as  his  having  shaped  a  piece  of  an  old  board  into 


276  ALLERTON  AND  OTHERS. 

the  likeness  of  a  weapon,  to  amuse  himself  in  his  dungeon, 
that  if  it  were  not  for  the  atrocious  spirit  which  prompted 
them  they  would  only  excite  derision.  At  the  close  of  these 
harassing  and  contemptible  proceedings,  Bonner  asked  him 
the  bootless  question,  whether  he  would  believe  in  all  points 
touching  the  sacrament  of  the  altar,  as  is  contained  in  the 
general  council,  holden  and  kept  under  Innocent  III :  at  the 
same  time  reading  their  decree  touching  that  sacrament. 
To  this  AUerton  answered,  "  I  believe  nothing  contained  in 
the  same  council,  neither  have  I  any  thing  to  do  therewith  ; 
and  it  were  also  very  necessary  that  no  man  else  should 
have  to  do  therewith."  "  Then,"  said  Bonner,  "  thou  art 
of  the  opinion  that  the  heretics  lately  burnt  at  Colchester 
were  of?"  "  Yes,"  said  he,  "  I  am  of  their  opinion  ;  and  I 
believe  that  they  be  saints  in  heaven."  Seeing  no  hope  of 
prevailing  against  his  faith,  Bonner  then  read  sentence 
against  him  ;  and  he  was  delivered  to  the  temporal  officers, 
who  kept  him  two  months  before  the  fire  was  prepared  for 
dispatching  him  and  his  three  fellow-martyrs. 

These  were  James  Austoo,  with  Margery  Austoo,  his 
wife,  and  Richard  Roth.  Austoo  was  a  simple  man ;  his 
wife  had  more  knowledge  and  fervency;  but  God  had  abun- 
dantly gifted  them  both  with  saving  faith  and  holy  courage. 
When  Bonner  asked  Austoo  whether  he  did  not  believe  as 
they  would  have  him,  that  the  true  body  and  blood  of 
Christ  was  in  their  sacrament,  he  answered,  "  No,  not  in 
the  sacrament  of  the  altar ;  but  in  the  supper  of  the  Lord, 
to  the  faithful  receiver,  is  the  very  body  and  blood  of 
Christ  by  faith."  His  wife  was  next  asked  how  she  liked 
the  religion  then  used  in  the  church  of  England  ;  she  repli- 
ed, that  she  believed  the  same  not  to  be  according  to  God's 
word,  but  false  and  corrupted ;  and  that  they  which  went 
thereunto  did  it  more  for  fear  of  the  law  than  otherwise. 
He  asked  her  again,  if  she  would  go  to  the  church  and  hear 
mass,  and  pray  for  the  prosperous  estate  of  the  king,  who 
was  then  abroad,  in  his  affairs?  She  answered,  that  she 
defied  the  mass  with  all  her  heart ;  and  that  she  would 
not  come  into  any  church  wherein  were  idols.  Articles 
to  the  number  of  eighteen,  many  of  them  as  frivolous  and 
vexatious  as  could  be,  were  then  objected  to  them;  which 
they  both  answered,  as  well  as  any  who  came  before  them 
had  done.  On  the  tenth  of  September,  they  were  finally 
brought  to  Fulham,  with  Allerton ;  and  being  in  Bon- 
ner's chapel,  he  said,  "  Austoo,  dost  thou  know  where  thou 


ALLERTON    AND    OTHERS.  277 

now  art,  and  in  what  place,  and  before  whom,  and  what 
thou  hast  to  do?"  "  Yea,"  replied  the  poor  man,  "I  know 
where  I  am  :  for  I  am  in  an  idol's  temple."  On  this,  they 
were  condemned  by  Bonner,  who,  as  Fox  says,  delivering 
them  unto  the  sheriff  there  present,  did  rid  his  hands,  as  he 
thought,  of  them  ;  but  the  Lord  in  the  end  will  judge  that, 
to  whom  I  refer  his  cause.  Some  cruel  attempts  were 
made  to  terrify  the  woman,  by  startling  her  in  the  dead  of 
night  with  frightful  sights  and  sounds:  but  the  Lord's  grace 
is  all-sufficient  for  his  people.  Out  of  weakness  they  were 
made  strong:  and  though  their  frail  bodies  were  given  to 
the  tormentors,  no  weapon  formed  against  their  souls  could 
prosper. 

With  Roth  the  bishop  took  great  pains,  to  win  him  from 
Christ,  but  with  no  better  success:  he  never  wavered.  So 
at  last,  by  way  of  an  article,  Bonner  laid  against  him  that 
he  was  a  comforter  and  emboldener  of  heretics ;  at  the  same 
time  producing  a  beautiful  letter,  which  Roth  had  written 
in  his  own  blood,  to  the  Munts,  and  the  other  condemned 
servants  of  God  at  Colchester.  This  letter  he  readily  owned. 
Bonner  then  asked  his  opinion  of  Ralph  Allerton,  to  which 
he  answered,  that  he  thought  him  to  be  one  of  the  elect 
children  of  God;  and  that  if  at  any  time  hereafter  he  hap- 
pened to  be  put  to  death  for  his  faith  and  religion,  he 
thought  he  would  die  a  true  martyr.  He  also  charged  the 
bishop  with  being  afraid  to  make  his  doings  against  Christ's 
people  public;  for  he  sent  for  them  to  Fulham  under  cover 
of  night,  to  examine  and  condemn.  Several  who  stood  by, 
entreated  him  to  recant,  and  to  ask  mercy  of  Bonner :  "  No," 
said  he,  "  I  will  not  ask  mercy  of  him  that  cannot  give  it." 
He  was  then  condemned,  and  delivered  to  the  temporal 
officers;  and  on  the  17th  day  of  September,  1558,  he,  with 
Allerton  and  the  Austoos,  joyfully  ended  their  mortal  lives 
in  one  fire  at  Islington,  for  the  testimony  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  and  of  the  everlasting  gospel  of  his  grace. 


MARTYROLOGY. — VOL.  II.  24 


278  THURSTON BONGEOK. 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

THE   FILLING    UP    OF   THE    MEASURE   OF    INIQUITIES    IN    MARY's    REIGN. 

On  the  same  day,  two  women  were  martyred  at  Colches- 
ter. One,  Margaret  Thurston,  was  the  widow  of  a 
faithful  servant  of  God,  who  had  died  in  Colchester  castle: 
the  other,  Agnes  Bongeor,  was  among  the  prisoners  in 
Mote  hall.  Both  were  condemned  to  suffer  with  the  other 
ten;  but  Agnes  being  wrongly  named  in  the  writ,  the  sheriff 
kept  her  back.  It  seems  that  Margaret  had  wavered,  and 
shrunk  when  the  hour  of  trial  came ;  and  so  was  left  be- 
hind; but  her  hesitation  was  only  the  momentary  weakness 
of  the  flesh,  and  she  at  last  witnessed  a  good  confession. 

When  Agnes  Bongeor  saw  herself  separated  from  the 
party  led  forth  to  die,  her  anguish  of  spirit  was  extreme: 
she  wept  most  bitterly,  imagining  herself  denied  of  the 
Lord  the  privilege  of  suffering  for  His  holy  name :  it  was 
a  spectacle  of  pity  and  wonder  to  all  who  came  near 
her,  to  behold  her  deep  affliction.  On  the  morning  of  the 
burning,  she  had  put  on  a  long  new  garment,  for  the  stake; 
and  having  a  little  infant  at  her  bosom,  which  she  had  most 
tenderly  nursed  and  nourished  during  her  imprisonment, 
she  delivered  it  up  to  a  nurse,  and  so,  breaking  the  last  and 
tenderest  of  her  earthly  ties,  expected  to  enter  on  that  day 
into  the  presence  of  Him  for  whom  all  was  forsaken.  While 
she  thus  lamented  and  bewailed  herself  under  the  unwel- 
come respite,  a  pious  friend  came  to  her,  and  asked  whe- 
ther Abraham's  obedience  was  accepted  before  God;  for 
that  he  did  sacrifice  his  son  Isaac  in  being  willing  to  offer 
him?  She  replied,  "I  know  that  Abraham's  will  before 
God  was  allowed  for  the  deed,  in  that  he  would  have  done 
it,  if  the  angel  of  the  Lord  had  not  stayed  him:  but  I  am 
unhappy,  the  Lord  thinketh  me  not  worthy  of  this  dignity, 
and  therefore  Abraham's  case  and  mine  are  not  alike." 
"  Why,"  said  her  friend,  "  would  you  not  willingly  have 
gone  with  your  company,  if  God  should  so  have  suffered 
it?"  She  replied,  "  Yes,  with  all  my  heart;  and  because 
I  did  not,  it  is  now  my  chief  and  greatest  grief"  Then  said 
her  friend,  "My  dear  sister,  I  pray  thee  consider  Abraham 
and  thyself  well ;  and  thou  shalt  see  thou  dost  nothing 
differ  from  him  in  will  at  all."  "  Alas !"  she  answered. 


JOHN    NOYES,  279 

<'  there  is  a  far  greater  matter  in  Abraham  than  in  me,  for 
Abraham  was  tried  with  the  offering  of  his  own  child,  but 
so  am  not  I;  and  therefore  our  cases  are  not  alike."  "Good 
sister,"  returned  the  other,  "  weigh  the  matter  but  indilFer- 
ently.  Abraham,  I  grant,  would  have  offered  his  son:  and 
have  not  you  done  the  like  in  your  little  sucking  babe?  But 
consider  further  than  this,  my  good  sister;  when  Abraham 
was  commanded  but  to  offer  his  son,  you  are  heavy  and 
grieved  because  you  offer  not  yourself;  which  goeth  some- 
what more  near  you  than  Abraham's  obedience  did  :  and 
therefore  before  God,  assuredly,  is  no  less  accepted  and 
allowed  in  his  holy  presence  :  which,  further,  the  preparing 
of  your  shroud  doth  also  argue  full  well."  This  talk  af- 
forded some  encouragement  to  the  Lord's  dear  mourning 
child  :  she  moderated  her  grief,  and  giving  herself  wholly 
to  reading  and  prayer,  found  therein  great  comfort. 

But  her  crown  was  sure  :  in  little  more  than  three  weeks 
the  writ  came  down  for  the  slaughter  of  these  two  poor 
lambs  of  Christ;  and  then  Margaret  Thurston,  greatly 
lamenting  her  former  backsliding,  and  endued  with  strength 
from  on  high  to  bear  a  constant  testimony  to  the  truth,  with 
Agnes  Bongeor,  rejoicing  in  the  attainment  of  her  earnest 
desire,  went  to  the  fire  together.  There  they  kneeled  down, 
making  their  humble  prayers  to  the  Lord  :  which  done, 
they  arose,  welcomed  the  chain  that  bound  them  to  the 
stake,  and,  encompassed  in  flames,  with  singular  joy  and 
triumph  gave  up  their  souls  into  the  hands  of  their  loving 
Saviour,  Who  can  doubt  that  they  had  an  immediate  and 
joyful  meeting  with  the  blessed  spirits  who  had  lately  trod 
before  them  the  fiery  path  to  heaven! 

John  Noyes  was  a  shoemaker,  dwelling  at  Laxfield,  in 
Suffolk.  He  was  reported  for  not  coming  to  mass,  and  his 
house  being  surrounded  by  the  crafty  management  of  the 
cruel  persecutors,  he  was  taken  when  leaving  it  to  visit  his 
neighbours.  One  of  the  captors  said  to  him,  "  Your  Mas- 
ter "hath  deceived  you."  Noyes  answered,  "  No  :  but  take 
you  heed  your  master  deceive  not  you."  The  justices, 
before  whom  they  carried  him,  sent  him  to  the  dungeon  in 
Eye,  whence  he  was  brought  to  Norwich,  and  examined 
by  the  bishop  as  to  his  approval  of  the  ceremonies  used  in 
the  church,  his  admission  of  the  pope's  supremacy,  and  his 
belief  in  transubstantiation.  His  replies  were  not  what 
they  wanted,  therefore  he  was  forthwith  condemned  to  the 
flames.     In  the  Guildhall  of  Norwich,  where  Noyes  was 


280  JOHN    NOYES. 

imprisoned,  his  brother-in-law  visited  him,  and  asked  whe- 
ther, when  the  bishop  pronounced  sentence,  he  did  not  fear 
death,  considering  what  a  terrible  one  it  was?  Noyes  told 
him  that,  he  thanked  God,  he  feared  death  no  more  at  that 
time  than  he,  or  any  other  person  then  at  liberty,  did.  He 
was  then  sent  back  to  Eye,  and  to  Laxfield.  When  he  was 
brought  to  the  stake  no  fire  could  be  procured  :  it  had  been 
extinguished  by  the  people  in  all  their  houses;  but  Lovel, 
the  high  constable,  espying  a  little  smoke  issuing  from  one 
chimney,  gave  orders  to  break  open  the  door,  and  there 
they  found  sufficient  to  afford  a  spark  for  their  diabolical 
purpose.  Noyes  kneeled  down  at  the  stake,  and  repeated 
the  fiftieth  psalm,  with  other  prayers;  then,  being  chained, 
he  said,  "  Fear  not  them  that  can  kill  the  body;  but  fear 
Him  that  can  kill  both  body  and  soul,  and  cast  it  into  ever- 
lasting fire."  When  he  saw  his  sister  weeping  and  bewail- 
ing him,  he  told  her  not  to  weep  for  him,  but  to  weep  for 
her  sins.  Then  a  wretch  named  Cadman,  the  hastier — that 
is,  the  person  who  was  to  hasten  the  fire,  for  they  had  even 
found  a  name  for  that  butchering  office — who  was  a  great 
champion  in  the  pope's  affairs,  brought  a  fagot  and  set  it 
up  against  the  martyr,  who  lifted  it,  kissed  it,  and  said, 
"  Blessed  be  the  time  that  ever  I  was  born  to  come  to  this !" 
He  then  delivered  his  psalter  to  the  under  sheriff,  request- 
ing him  to  be  good  to  his  wife  and  children,  and  to  give 
the  former  that  book  from  him  :  the  officer  promised,  but 
never  performed  it.  Noyes  then  addressed  the  people : 
"  They  say  they  can  make  God  of  a  piece  of  bread  ;  believe 
them  not."  "  Good  people,"  he  again  said,  "  bear  witness 
that  I  do  believe  to  be  saved  by  the  merits  and  passion  of 
Jesus  Christ,  and  not  by  mine  own  deeds."  The  fire  was 
then  kindled,  and  he  cried,  "  Lord,  have  mercy  upon  me ! 
Christ,  have  mercy  upon  me !  Son  of  David,  have  mercy 
upon  me !"     And  so  died  this  simple  but  fervent  Christian. 

A  poor  servant-man  standing  by,  and  looking  on,  ex- 
claimed, "  Good  Lord,  how  the  sinews  of  his  arms  shrink 
up !"  These  words  were  so  reported  to  the  sheriff  that  he 
took  him  into  custody,  bound  the  poor  fellow's  father  and 
master  under  a  penalty  to  have  him  forthcoming,  and  then 
bringing  him  to  trial,  set  him  in  the  stocks,  and  whipped 
him  round  the  market-place  before  they  let  him  go. 

When  Simon  Miller  and  Elizabeth  Cooper  were  burned 
at  Norwich,  as  has  already  been  related,  there  stood  by 
them,  in  Lollards'  pit,  a  poor  woman  named  Cicely  Ormes, 


CICELY    ORMES.  281 

wife  of  a  worsted-weaver,  dwelling  in  St.  Lawrence's  parish, 
in  that  city.  She  was  heard  to  say,  that  she  would  pledge 
them  in  the  sanae  cup  that  they  drank  of;  and  for  this  she 
was  taken  before  the  chancellor,  who  asked  her  what  she 
said  to  the  sacrament  of  Christ's  body.  She  said  she  be- 
lieved it  was  the  sacrament  of  the  body  of  Christ.  "Yea," 
repeated  the  chancellor  ;  "  but  what  is  that  which  the  priest 
holdeth  over  his  head  ?"  She  replied,  "  It  is  bread  ;  and  if 
you  make  it  any  better,  it  is  worse."  At  this  the  chancel- 
lor, in  a  great  heat,  and  with  many  threatening  words,  sent 
her  off  to  prison.  When  next  he  summoned  her  before  him 
he  had  with  him  Bridges,  and  others.  He  then  offered  her 
liberty  to  believe  as  she  would,  providedshe  attended  church, 
and  kept  her  tongue  quiet.  Cicely  told  him  she  would  not 
consent  to  his  wicked  proposal,  for  if  she  did,  God  would 
surely  plague  her.  The  chancellor  said  he  had  shown 
more  favour  to  her  than  he  had  ever  done  to  any,  being 
loth  to  condemn  her,  as  she  was  but  an  ignorant,  unlearn- 
ed, and  foolish  woman.  She  immediately  told  him,  that  if 
he  did,  he  should  not  be  so  desirous  of  destroying  her  sin- 
ful flesh,  as  she,  by  God's  grace,  would  be  content  to  give 
it  in  so  good  a  quarrel.  On  this  he  rose  up,  read  the  sen- 
tence, and  delivered  her  to  the  secular  officers,  who  kept  her 
prisoner  in  the  Guildhall  till  the  day  of  her  death. 

Cicely  Ormes  was  one  of  those  poor  ones,  rich  in  faith, 
who  are  often  chosen  to  be  the  heirs  of  God's  kingdom. 
Her  father  was  a  tailor,  at  East  Dereham.  She  had  once 
recanted,  and  for  a  whole  year  conformed  to  the  reigning 
abomination;  but  her  mind  was  so  troubled  by  it,  that  at 
the  time  of  her  apprehension  she  had  about  her  a  letter, 
which  she  had  just  written  to  the  chancellor,  declaring  that 
she  would  no  longer  dissemble,  that  she  repented  her  recan- 
tation from  the  bottom  of  her  heart,  and  would  never  again 
be  guilty  of  the  like  while  she  lived.  On  the  fifth  of  July  she 
was  apprehended ;  and  on  the  twenty-third  of  September, 
between  seven  and  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning,  she  was 
brought  out  to  execution  by  the  sheriffs,  people  to  the  num- 
ber of  two  hundred  being  assembled  to  witness  the  murder. 
Having  kneeled  at  the  stake,  in  prayer  to  God,  she  said,  on 
rising,  "  Good  people,  I  believe  in  God  the  Father,  God 
the  Son,  and  God  the  Holy  Ghost,  three  persons,  and  one 
God.  This  do  I  not,  nor  will  I  recant:  but  I  recant  utterly, 
from  the  bottom  of  my  heart,  the  doings  of  the  pope  of 
Rome,  and  all  his  popish  priests  and  shavelings.  I  utterly 
24* 


282  VARIOUS    MARTYRS. 

refuse,  and  never  will  have  to  do  with  them  again,  by  God's 
grace.  And,  good  people,  I  would  you  should  not  think  of 
me  that  I  believe  to  be  saved  in  that  I  offer  myself  here 
unto  the  death  for  the  Lord's  cause ;  but  I  believe  to  be 
saved  by  the  death  and  passion  of  Christ ;  and  this  my 
death  is  and  shall  be  a  witness  of  my  faith  unto  all  you 
here  present.  Good  people,  as  many  of  you  as  believe  as 
I  believe,  pray  for  me."  She  then  went  up  to  the  stake, 
and  laid  her  hand  upon  it,  saying, "  Welcome  the  cross  of 
Christ."  This  stake  being  the  same  at  which  Miller  and 
Cooper  had  been  burned,  was  still  black  with  the  smoke 
of  their  fire,  and  soiled  her  hand;  which,  when  she  saw, 
she  quietly  wiped  it  with  her  shroud.  Then  again  touch- 
ing the  stake  with  her  hand,  she  drew  nearer,  and  kissed 
it,  repeating, ''  Welcome  the  sweet  cross  of  Christ !"  When 
she  was  bound  to  it,  and  the  flames  rose,  she  broke  out  into 
praise,  saying,  "  My  soul  doth  magnify  the  Lord  ;  and  my 
spirit  rejoiceth  in  God  my  Saviour."  She  then  joined  her 
hands  together,  held  them  before  her  breast,  cast  her  eyes 
upwards,  and  slowly  and  gradually  raising  her  joined  hands 
higher  and  higher,  as  the  shrinking  sine\vs  compelled  her 
to  do,  she  so  stood  till  the  sinews  burst,  the  arms  fell,  and 
she  died,  as  motionless,  as  calm,  and  quiet,  as  if  she  had 
been  all  the  while  in  a  gentle  slumber. 

Thus,  O  Lord,  hast  thou  chosen  the  weakest  things  of 
the  world  to  confound  those  things  that  be  mighty:  and  in 
thy  saints  thou  art  glorified  ! 

We  must  now  record  the  names  of  some  individuals  who 
had,  at  various  times,  suffered  in  the  diocese  of  Chiches- 
ter ;  but  concerning  whom  no  other  account  remains. 
Christopherson,  the  bishop,  who  had,  in  Woodman's  case, 
shown  something  of  a  kindlier  feeling  than  his  brethren, 
became  as  fierce  a  persecutor  as  any.  They  were  these: — 

John  Foreman,  Thos.  Avington, 

John  Warner,  Dennis  Burgis, 

Christian  Graver,  Thos.  Ravensdale, 

Nigh.  Holden,  John  Miles, 

John  Oswald,  John  Hart, 

James  Morrice,  Thomas  Harland, 

John  Ashdon,  Thomas  Deagate, 

Ann  Try,  Margery  Morrice, 
And  Athoth,  a  priest;  all  of  whom  were  martyred. 

At  Bury,  in  the  month  of  November,  suffered  a  servant 


THOMAS    SPURDANCE. 


283 


of  the  queen's  own  household,  within  the  very  confines  of 
which,  it  seems  that,  as  in  the  court  of  Nero,  God  had  some 
to  witness  to  the  truth  of  Christianity.     Thomas  Spur- 
dance  was  first  brought  to  Dunning,  the  active  chancellor 
of  Norwich,  who  asked  if  he  had  been  with  the  priest,  and 
confessed  his  sins  to  him.     Spurdance  said,  "  No  :  I  have 
confessed  my  sins  to  God  ;  and  God  saith,  in  what  hour 
soever  a  sinner  doth  repent,  and  be  sorry  for  his  sins,  and 
ask.  him  forgiveness,  willing  no  more  so  to  do,  he  will  no 
more  reckon  his  sin  unto  him ;  and  that  is  sufficient  for 
me."   "  Then,"  said  the  chancellor,  "  thou  decriest  the  sa- 
crament of  penance."     He  answered  that  he  denied  not 
penance,  but  confessing  of  sins  to  a  priest;  but  Dunning 
said  it  was  the  same  thing.     When  asked  why  he  had  not 
received   the  sacrament  at  Easter,  he  said,  "  1  dare  not 
meddle  with  it  as  you  use  it."     •'  Why,  do  we  not  use  it 
truly?"  said  the  chancellor.     "  No :  for  the  holy  supper  of 
the  Lord  serveth  for  the  Christian  congregation  ;  and  you 
are  none  of  Christ's  members :  and  therefore  I  dare  not 
meddle  with  you,  lest  I  be  like  unto  you."    "  Why  are  we 
none  of  Christ's  members  ?"   asked  Dunning.     "  Because 
you  teach  laws  contrary  to  God's  laws."  "  What  laws  are 
those?"  said  the  chancellor.     "  These  three  articles  that 
you  swear  the  people  unto  here,"  replied  Spurdance,  "  be 
false  and  untrue  ;  and  you  do  evil  to  swear  the  people  unto 
them."     Here  the  chancellor  cautioned  the  people  to  give 
no  heed  to  him ;  for  that  he  was  a  heretic,  and  would  teach 
them  disobedience.     Then  he  asked  him  of  his  belief  in 
transubstantiation.     Spurdance  said  he  did  not  believe  it  to 
be   the  same  body  in  substance,  for  that  Christ's  body  had 
flesh,  blood,  and  bones :  and  that  the  true  sacrifice  was  a 
bloody  one,  but  theirs  was  dry.     He  then,  in  turn,  asked 
the  chancellor  if  he  called  the  mass  a  sacrifice?  A  doctor, 
who  sat  by,  said  it  was  a  sacrifice  both  for  the  quick  and 
the  dead.    "  No,"  answered  Spurdance,  "  it  is  no  sacrifice; 
for  St.  Paul  saith  that  Christ  made  one  sacrifice  once  for 
all:  and  I  do  believe  in  none  other  sacrifice,  but  only  in 
that  one  sacrifice  that  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  made  once  for 
all."     The  doctor  then  said,  "That  sacrifice  which  Christ 
made  was  a  wet  sacrifice  ;  but  the  mass  is  a  dry  sacrifice." 
Spurdance  remarked,  "  Then  that  same  dry  sacrifice  is  a 
sacrifice  of  your  own  making  ;  and  it  is  your  sacrifice  ;  it 
is  none  of  mine."     The  chancellor  declared  him  a  heretic, 
for  denying  the  sacrament  of  the  altar :  Spurdance  pro- 


284  THOMAS    SPURDANCE. 

ceeded  to  tell  him  how  he  believed  in  the  matter.  "  I  be- 
lieve if  I  come  rightly  and  worthily,  as  God  hath  com- 
manded me,  to  the  holy  supper  of  the  Lord,  I  receive  him 
by  faith,  by  believing  in  him.  But  the  bread  being  received 
is  not  God;  nor  the  bread  that  is  yonder  in  the  pix  is  not 
God.  God  dwelleth  not  in  temples  made  with  hands,  nei- 
ther will  be  worshipped  with  the  work  of  men's  hands. 
And  therefore  you  do  very  evil  to  cause  the  people  to  kneel 
down  and  worship  the  bread ;  for  God  did  never  bid  you 
hold  it  above  your  head,  neither  had  the  apostles  such 
use."  Dunning  again  declared  him  a  very  heretic,  and 
bade  it  to  be  so  written.  Spurdance  said,  "  The  servant  is 
not  greater  than  his  master:  your  predecessors  killed  my 
Master,  Christ,  the  prophets  and  apostles,  and  holy  virtu- 
ous men ;  and  now  you  also  kill  the  servants  of  Christ ; 
so  that  all  the  righteous  blood  that  hath  been  shed,  even 
from  righteous  Abel  to  this  day,  shall  be  required  at  your 
hands." 

The  next  examination  of  Spurdance  was  at  the  bishop's 
house,  who  said  to  him,  "  Sirrah,  dost  thou  not  believe  in 
the  catholic  faith  of  holy  church?"  He  answered  that  he 
believed  in  Christ's  catholic  church.  "  Yes,"  said  the 
bishop,  "  in  Christ's  church,  of  which  the  pope  is  the  head. 
Dost  thou  not  believe  that  the  pope  is  supreme  head  of  the 
catholic  church?"  He  replied,  "  No,  I  believe  not  that  he 
should  be  above  the  apostles,  if  he  take  them  to  be  his  pre- 
decessors. For  when  there  came  a  thought  among  the  apos- 
tles, who  should  be  the  greatest  when  their  Master  was  gone, 
Christ  answered  them  unto  their  thoughts :  '  The  kings  of 
the  earth  bear  dominion  above  others,  but  ye  shall  not 
so  do,  for  he  that  will  be  greatest  among  you  shall  be- 
come servant  unto  you  all.'  How  is  it  then,  that  he  will 
climb  so  high  above  his  fellows?  And  also  we  were  sworn, 
in  my  master  king  Henry's  time,  that  we  should,  to  the 
uttermost  of  our  power,  never  consent  unto  him  again. 
And  therefore  as  he  hath  nothing  to  do  here  in  England, 
so  neither  in  his  own  country  more  than  a  bishop  in  his 
diocese."  The  bishop  without  noticing  the  weighty  argu- 
ment adduced  from  scripture  against  papal  arrogance,  said 
that  the  kingdom  had  all  been  in  error,  in  rejecting  the  su- 
premacy; and  in  civil  terms  invited  Spurdance  to  acknow- 
ledge it  again;  who  replied,  "No,  I  warrant  you,  by  the 
grace  of  God,  not  as  long  as  I  live:  for  you  cannot  prove 
by  the  scriptures  that  the  pope  is  head  of  the  church,  and 


THOMAS    SPURDANCE.  285 

may  do  therein  what  he  listeth."  To  this  his  lordship 
answered  in  a  speech,  which  he  himself  no  doubt  thought 
very  fine:  it  was  this,  "  As  the  bell-wether  which  weareth 
the  bell,  is  head  of  the  flock  of  sheep,  even  so  is  the  pope 
the  head  of  the  church  of  Christ :  and  as  the  bees  in  the 
hive  have  a  master-bee  when  they  have  gone  out  to  bring 
them  home  again  to  the  hive,  even  so  the  pope,  when  we  be 
gone  astray,  and  have  wandered  from  the  fold,  from  the 
hive,  then  is  ordained  our  head,  by  succession  of  Peter,  to 
bring  us  home  again  to  the  true  church:  even  as  thou  now, 
my  good  fellow,  hast  wandered  long  out  of  the  way,  like  a 
scattered  sheep,  or  bee,  hear  that  bell-wether,  that  master- 
bee,  and  come  home  with  us  to  thy  mother  the  church 
again."  Spurdance  replied,  "  My  lord,  all  this  is  but  natu- 
ral reason,  and  no  scripture  ;  but  since  ye  cannot  prove  the 
pope  to  be  authorized  by  scripture,  ye  answer  me  not  as  I 
thought  you  would." 

The  bishop  then  used  a  stronger  argument,  telling  him 
that  as  he  would  not  be  answered,  he  should  be  compelled 
by  law,  whether  he  would  or  no.  To  which  he  returned, 
"  My  lord,  so  did  your  forefathers  entreat  Christ  and  his 
apostles.  They  had  a  law,  and  by  their  law  they  put  him 
to  death  ;  and  so  likewise  you  have  a  law  which  is  tyranny, 
and  by  that  would  ye  enforce  me  to  believe  as  you  do :  but 
the  Lord,  I  trust,  will  assist  me  against  all  your  beggarly 
ceremonies;  and  make  your  foolishness  known  to  all  the 
world  one  day."  Then  said  the  bishop,  "When  were  you 
at  church,  and  went  in  procession,  and  did  the  ceremonies 
of  the  church?"  "Never  since  I  was  born,"  was  the  re- 
ply. "  No  !"  said  the  bishop ;  "  how  old  are  you  V  "  I 
think  about  forty."  "  Why,  how  did  you  use  yourself  at 
church  twenty  years  ago?"  "Even  as  you  do  now,"  re- 
plied Spurdance.  "  And  even  now,"  replied  the  bishop, 
"  you  said  you  did  not  use  the  ceremonies  since  you  were 
born  !"  "  No  more  I  did,"  said  Spurdance,  "  since  I  was 
born  anew :  as  Christ  said  to  Nicodemus,  '  Except  ye  be 
born  anew,  ye  cannot  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  hea- 
ven.' "  A  doctor,  sitting  by,  here  remarked  to  the  bishop 
that  he  was  an  anabaptist ;  for  such  were  their  opinions  : 
the  martyr  answered  that  he  was  not  so:  for  that  they 
denied  infant  baptism,  which  he  did  not.  The  bishop 
then  asked  why  he  did  not  go  to  the  church,  and  do 
the  ceremonies :  he  said,  "  Because  they  be  contrary  to 
God's  word  and  laws,  as  you  yourself  have  taught :  but 


286  THOMAS    SPURDANCE. 

now  you  say  it  is  good,  again ;  and  I  think  if  there  were 
a  return  to-morrow,  you  would  say  that  false  again,  which 
you  hold  now.  Therefore  I  may  well  say,  there  is  no  truth 
in  you."  The  bishop  called  him  a  stubborn  fellow,  a 
heretic,  and  a  traitor.  He  repelled  the  charge  of  trea- 
son; saying,  "There  is  no  man  alive,  I  thank  God,  that 
can  accuse  me  justly  that  ever  I  was  disobedient  to  any 
civil  law.  But  you  must  consider,  my  lord,  that  I  have  a 
soul  and  a  body,  and  my  soul  is  none  of  the  queen's,  but 
my  body  and  my  goods  are  the  queen's.  And  I  must  give 
God  my  soul,  and  all  that  belongeth  unto  it ;  that  is,  I  must 
do  the  laws  and  commandments  of  God  ;  and  whosoever 
commandeth  laws  contrary  to  God's  laws,  I  may  not  do 
them  for  losing  of  my  soul ;  but  must  rather  obey  God  than 
man,"  The  bishop  said  he  could  prove  their  laws  to  be 
agreeable  to  God's  laws,  Spurdance  replied,  "If  you  can 
prove  by  the  word  of  God  that  you  should  have  any  graven 
images  made  to  set  in  your  churches  for  laymen's  books, 
or  to  worship  God  by  them,  or  that  you  should  have  any 
ceremonies  in  your  church  as  you  have,  prove  them  by  the 
word  of  God,  and  I  will  do  them."  The  bishop  answered, 
"  It  is  good  and  decent  to  furnish  the  church;  as  when  you 
shall  go  to  dinner,  you  have  a  cloth  upon  the  table  to  fur- 
nish the  table,  before  the  meat  shall  come  upon  it,  so  are 
these  ceremonies  a  comely,  decent  order,  to  be  in  the 
church  before  Christian  people," 

"  These,"  said  Spurdance,  "  are  inventions  and  imagi- 
nations out  of  your  own  brain,  without  any  word  of  God 
to  prove  them.  For  God  saith,  Look,  what  you  think  good 
in  your  own  eyes,  if  I  command  the  contrary,  it  is  abomi- 
nable in  my  sight.  And  these  ceremonies  are  against  God's 
laws:  for  St.  Paul  saith  they  be  weak  and  beggarly;  and 
reproveth  the  Galatians  for  doing  them."  The  bishop  at- 
tributed these  opinions  to  his  being  a  heretic,  and  disobedi- 
ent; and  invited  him  to  confess  having  been  in  error,  and 
to  come  home  to  them.  He  replied,  "  No,  I  have  been  in 
no  error ;  for  the  spiritual  laws  were  never  trulier  set  forth 
than  in  my  master  king  Edward's  time  ;  and  I  trust  in  God 
I  shall  never  forsake  them  while  I  live."  A  gentleman 
then  sought  to  persuade  him  to  save  his  life,  as  the  bishop 
would  have  him:  advising  him  at  least  to  take  a  day  for 
consideration,  as  the  bishop  would  give  it  him  :  but  he  wise- 
ly and  steadfastly  answered,  "  If  I  save  my  life,  I  shall 
lose  it ;  and  if  I  lose  my  life  for  Christ's  sake,  I  shall  find 


HALLIN6DALE SPARROW.  287 

it  in  life  everlasting.  And  if  I  take  a  day,  when  the  day 
cometh,  I  must  say  then  even  as  I  do  now,  except  I  will 
lie;   and  therefore  that  needeth  not." 

The  usual  sentence  was  passed  on  this  faithful  witness ; 
and  he  ended  his  mortal  course  in  the  flames,  a  willing 
sacrifice  to  the  Lord,  whom  he  served. 

Smithfield  was  the  scene  of  the  next  butchery.  Three 
men  named  John  Hallingdalk,  William  Sparrow,  and 
Richard  Gibson,  suffered  there  together.  Hallingdale 
was  charged  with  having  changed  his  religion  in  king  Ed- 
ward's days,  and  continuing  in  the  reformed  faith  ever 
since;  with  absenting  himself  from  the  parish  church:  and 
the  last  article  stated  that  when  his  wife  gave  birth  to  a 
boy,  he  caused  the  child  to  be  christened  in  English,  after 
the  same  manner  and  form,  in  ail  points,  as  was  used  in 
the  time  of  king  Edward  the  sixth  ;  and  caused  it  to  be  call- 
ed Joshua;  and  would  not  have  the  said  child  christened  in 
Latin,  after  the  prevailing  form  and  manner;  nor  intended  to 
have  it  confirmed  by  the  bishop.  To  all  these  articles  Hal- 
lingdale most  readily  assented;  he  plainly  denied  their  doc- 
trine of  the  sacrament,  and  told  Bonner  that  Cranmer,  Lat- 
imer, Ridley,  Hooper,  and  generally  all  that  had  of  late 
been  burned  for  heretics,  were  no  heretics  at  all,  because 
they  preached  fully  the  gospel ;  upon  whose  preaching  he 
grounded  his  faith  and  conscience,  as  he  said,  according  to 
the  saying  of  St.  John,  in  the  eighteenth  chapter  of  his  Re- 
velation, where  he  saith  that  the  blood  of  the  prophets  and 
of  the  saints,  and  of  all  that  were  slain  upon  earth,  was 
found  in  the  Babylonical  church;  by  the  which,  he  said,  is 
understood  the  church  where  the  pope  is  the  head.  When, 
after  being  remanded  for  a  day,  he  was  again  assailed 
with  persuasions  and  perversions  of  scripture,  he  main- 
tained his  faith  with  the  same  boldness,  saying  that  he 
would  persevere  in  it  to  the  death.  He  was  therefore 
condemned. 

Sparrow  was  accused  of  having  fallen  again  into  heresy, 
after  recanting  his  errors  ;  and  of  selling  certain  heretical 
and  blasphemous  ballads  to  the  people;  which  ballads  were, 
in  truth,  hymns  and  godly  poems  taken  from  the  Holy 
Scriptures.  He  confessed  it  readily  ;  and  said  of  his  for- 
mer submission,  "  I  am  sorry  that  ever  I  made  it ;  and  it 
was  the  worst  deed  that  ever  I  did."  He  also  said  to  his 
examiner,  Bonner,  "  Hold  up  your  abomination  as  long  as 
you  can.     That  which  you  call  truth,  I  do  believe  to  be 


288  RICHARD    GIBSON. 

heresy."  He  also  said  that  he  had  openly  declared  his  ha- 
tred of  the  Romish  doctrines,  as  set  forth  in  his  accusa- 
tion ;  and  would  do  so  again,  if  he  were  at  liberty.  Being 
finally  asked  by  the  bishop  whether  he  would  renounce  his 
opinions,  he  said  he  would  not,  adding,  "  That  which  you 
call  heresy  is  good  and  godly ;  and  if  every  hair  of  my  head 
were  a  man,  I  would  burn  them  all,  rather  than  go  from 
the  truth."  He  once  more  repeated  that  the  mass  was 
naught  and  abominable;  and  then  Bonner  sentenced  him  to 
the  stake. 

Gibson  had  been  imprisoned  two  years  for  debt,  as  sure- 
ty for  some  other  ;  and  was  accused  on  suspicion,  for  that 
he  had  never  during  that  space  gone  to  confession,  nor  re- 
ceived at  the  popish  altar.  The  articles  against  this  gen- 
tleman declared  that  he  had  behaved  himself  in  words  and 
deeds,  in  divers  conditions  and  points,  contrary  to  the  order, 
religion,  and  faith  of  Christ's  catholic  church,  and  so 
forth  :  and  that  he  had  irreverently  spoken  against  the  pope, 
against  the  see  of  Rome,  against  the  seven  sacraments,  with 
other  like  matters:  that  he  had  defended,  allowed,  commend- 
ed, and  liked  Cranmer,  Latimer,  Ridley,  and  all  other  here- 
tics here  in  England  :  that  he  had  comforted,  aided,  and 
encouraged  heretics  to  persist  in  their  errors :  that  he  had 
approved  king  Edward's  prayer-book,  desiring  its  general 
use :  that  he  had  declared  he  would  not,  if  he  were  at  liber- 
ty, attend  mass,  matins,  or  even-song,  go  in  procession, 
bear  a  taper,  receive  ashes  or  pax,  holy  water,  or  holy 
bread,  nor  observe  any  of  the  ceremonies  of  the  church: 
that  he  had  denied  the  obligation  of  confessing  to  a  priest, 
or  of  receiving  the  sacrament  of  the  altar  :  and  finally  that 
he  denied  the  propriety  of  praying  for  the  dead,  or  the  ne- 
cessity of  fasting  and  will-worship;  and  declared  the  adora- 
tion of  the  host  to  be  unlawful. 

After  this,  he  was  kept  six  months  in  the  Compter;  at  the 
end  of  which  time  Bonner  sent  a  low  fellow  to  fetch  him, 
who  could  scarcely  reach  to  Mr.  Gibson's  shoulder,  yet  in- 
sisted on  violently  haling  and  dragging  him  through  the 
most  public  streets.  The  gentleman,  who  was  of  a  very 
tall  and  powerful  frame,  mildly  requested  this  catchpole 
either  to  choose  a  more  private  way,  or  let  him  walk,  so 
as  not  to  attract  the  eyes  of  all  passengers,  promising  to 
go  quietly  with  him  wheresoever  he  would.  Bonner's  de- 
puty, however,  continued  to  drag  at  his  arm,  adding  in- 
sulting language  to  his  rude  bearing ;  on  which  Mr.  Gib- 


RICHARD    GIBSON JOHN    ROUGH.  289 

son,  looking  down  on  him,  told  him  that  if  he  did  not  loose 
his  hold  he  would  wring  his  head  off.  The  fellow  immedi- 
ately shrunk  away,  and  the  prisoner  calmly  walked  on  into 
the  bishop's  presence.  After  a  great  deal  of  unjust  and 
illegal  shuffling,  Bonner  not  being  the  rightful  ordinary 
of  Gibson,  and  after  vainly  trying  to  tamper  with  him,  and 
to  shake  his  fidelity,  during  several  examinations,  Bonner 
went  on  to  condemn  him.  The  martyr  said,  "  Blessed  am 
I,  that  am  cursed  at  your  hands.  We  have  nothing  for  it 
now,  but  '  Thus  will  I ;'  for,  as  the  bishop  saith,  so  must 
it  be.  And  no  heresy  it  is  to  turn  the  truth  of  God's  word 
into  lies  and  that  do  you." 

On  the  eighteenth  of  November  these  three  bold  and 
faithful  soldiers  of  Christ  were  brought  to  the  stake  in 
Smithfield,  where  they  gave  their  flesh  to  be  consumed  in 
the  flames,  and  their  souls  into  the  hands  of  their  redeem- 
ing God. 

A  month  afterwards  were  burned  at  the  same  place  John 
Rough,  minister  of  the  gospel;  and  Margaret  Mearing. 
The  former  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  and  being  unjustly 
deprived  of  his  inheritance,  at  a  very  early  age  he  enter- 
ed the  order  of  the  black  friars  at  Sterling ;  where  he  re- 
mained until  the  earl  of  Arran  prevailed  with  the  archbishop 
of  St.  Andrew's  to  dispense  with  his  vows,  and  allow  him 
to  join  his  household  as  a  domestic  chaplain.  During  the 
year  of  his  abode  with  lord  Arran  he  became  enlightened, 
and  after  preaching  for  four  years  at  Ayr,  with  a  pension 
from  Henry  VIII.,  he  came  into  England  in  Edward's 
days,  under  the  patronage  of  the  lord  protector,  Somerset, 
who  employed  him  to  preach  the  gospel  at  Carlisle,  Ber- 
wick, and  Newcastle.  Here  he  married  a  Scottish  lady, 
and  was  shortly  afterwards  presented  by  the  archbishop  of 
York  to  a  benefice  near  Hull,  where  he  continued  till  the 
end  of  king  Edward's  happy  reign. 

When  Mary  ascended  the  throne  he  saw  the  danger  that 
must  ensue,  and  at  the  beginning  of  the  persecution,  fled 
with  his  wife,  to  the  continent,  and  there  supported  himself 
by  his  industry,  knitting  caps,  hose,  and  such  articles,  un- 
til, in  the  month  of  October,  1537,  he  ventured  over  to 
England  to  buy  yarn,  and  other  necessary  things  for  his 
business ;  and  hearing  of  the  congregation  of  God's  chil- 
dren, which  secretly  assembled  there,  he  joined  himself  to 
them,  and  was  soon  elected  their  minister,  which  sacred 
office  he  continued  diligently  to  exercise,  teaching  and  con- 

MARTYROLOGY. VOL.  II.  25 


290  JOHN    ROUGH. 

firming  them  in  the  truth  of  the  gospel.  At  length  he,  and 
Cuthbert  Sympson,  were  betrayed  by  the  treacherous  craft 
of  a  base  hypocrite,  named  Sergeant,  a  tailor,  and  were 
apprehended  at  Islington  by  the  vice-chamberlain  of  the 
queen's  household.  The  congregation  had  appointed  to 
meet  there  for  prayer  and  celebration  of  the  holy  commu- 
nion, at  a  house  called  the  Saracen's  Head ;  but,  in  order 
to  screen  their  brethren,  they  took  advantage  of  a  play,  or 
device,  being  performed  there,  as  though  they  had  gone  to 
witness  it.  Rough  was  immediately  sent  to  Bonner,  wiih 
a  letter  from  the  queen's  council ;  and  he,  sending  for  him 
to  his  palace,  presently  objected  articles  to  him.  First,  that 
he  had  spoken  against  the  seven  sacraments,  especially 
condemning  the  sacrament  of  the  altar,  denying  it  to  con- 
lain  the  real  substance  of  Christ's  body:  and  also  had  de- 
clared confession  to  be  unnecessary,  and  the  priest's  abso- 
lution to  be  of  no  avail.  To  this  he  answered,  that  he  al- 
lowed two  sacraments,  baptism,  and  the  Lord's  supper : 
the  other  five  he  denied  to  be  sacraments,  therefore  he  had 
spoken  against  them.  He  acknowledged  having  said  and 
taught  that  the  Lord's  body  is  not  present,  substantially,  in 
the  sacrament  of  the  altar,  but  that  the  substances  of  bread 
and  wine  do  remain  without  any  transubstantiation  at  all. 
As  to  confessing  sins  to  a  priest,  he  thought  it  necessary, 
if  the  sin  to  be  confessed  were  committed  against  the 
priest :  but  if  the  offence  were  done  to  another,  it  is  not 
needful  to  confess  it  to  the  priest,  but  to  the  party  offended. 
Secondly  he  was  charged  with  having  misliked  and  re- 
proved the  religion  and  ecclesiastical  service  then  used  in 
the  realm,  allowing  those  used  in  the  later  years  of  king 
Edward  the  Sixth  :  that  he  had  by  word,  writing,  and  deed, 
set  forward  and  taught  that  the  English  service  and  doc- 
trine therein  contained  were  agreeable  in  all  points  to  God's 
word,  condemning  utterly  the  Latin  service  then  in  use. 
This  he  fully  admitted.  Thirdly,  that  he  had  commended 
and  approved  the  doctrines  of  Cranmer,  Ridley,  and  Lati- 
mer, concerning  the  sacrament  of  the  altar.  He  said  to 
this,  that  he  had  approved  their  doctrine,  as  agreeable  to 
God's  word;  and  that  they  were  godly,  learned  men,  and 
such  as  had  perfect  understanding  of  the  subject.  Fourthly, 
that  he  had,  in  sundry  places,  during  the  queen's  reign, 
ministered  and  received  the  communion,  as  it  was  used  in 
the  days  of  king  Edward :  and  that  he  knew  of  some  who 
yet  kept  books  of  the  same  communion,  and  used  them  in 


JOHN    ROUGH.  291 

private  houses,  and  whose  opinion  was  against  the  sacra- 
ment of  the  altar.  He  replied  to  this,  that  he  liked  that 
communion  well,  but  had  not  ministered  or  received  it  in 
England  in  the  queen's  reign ;  neither  knew  any  that  had 
books  of  it:  but  on  the  other  side  of  the  sea  he  knew  many 
who  had  them,  and  that  he  had  there  received  the  commu- 
nion in  sundry  places.  Fifthly,  that  in  various  places  in 
England  he  had  spoken  against  the  pope  of  Rome,  and  liis 
apostolic  see,  plainly  contemning  and  despising  the  autho- 
rity of  the  same;  not  allowing  the  faith  and  doctrine  there- 
of, but  directly  speaking  against  it,  and  inducing  others  to 
do  the  same.  He  granted  this  to  be  quite  true.  Sixthly, 
that  he  knew  all,  or  a  great  part,  of  those  Englishmen  who 
had  fled  out  of  the  realm  for  religion :  that  he  had  agreed 
with  them,  succoured,  maintained,  and  helped  them,  and 
conveyed  their  seditious  books  and  letters  into  the  realm. 
He  confessed  being  well  acquainted  with  about  a  hundred 
English  men  and  women  who  had  fled  to  the  continent  for 
their  religion,  using  there  the  order  set  forth  in  king  Ed- 
ward's days:  the  rest  of  the  allegation  he  denied.  Seventh- 
ly, that  he  had  said  he  had  been  at  Rome,  for  about  a 
month  or  more,  and  had  seen  little  good  or  none  there,  but 
very  much  evil.  Among  the  which  he  saw  one  abomina- 
tion, that  is  to  say  a  man,  or  the  pope,  carried  on  the  shoul- 
ders of  four  men,  as  though  he  had  been  God,  and  no  man; 
also,  a  cardinal  to  have  a  woman  of  improper  character 
riding  openly  behind  him :  and,  moreover,  a  pope's  bull, 
that  gave  express  licence  for  the  public  practice  of  licen- 
tiousness. This  he  granted  in  every  point  to  be  true. 
Eighthly,  that  since  his  last  coming  into  England  he  had 
perniciously  allured  and  comforted  divers  of  the  subjects 
of  this  realm,  both  young  and  old,  men  and  women,  to  have 
and  use  the  book  of  communion  set  forth  by  king  Edward, 
and  had  himself  set  forth  and  read  it,  causing  others  to  do 
the  like,  and  to  leave  ofl"  from  going  to  hear  the  Latin  ser- 
vice at  their  parish  churches.  He  admitted  having  both 
prayed  and  read  the  service  of  king  Edward's  book,  and 
desired  others  to  do  the  same.  He  did  not  cause  any  to 
leave  the  Latin  service,  but  told  them  it  was  better  to  pray 
in  a  tongue  that  they  understood  than  in  an  unknown 
tongue.  The  last  charge  related  to  his  being  at  Islington, 
as  before  stated. 

Having  thus  answered  the  articles,  he  was  recommitted 
till  the  next  day;  when,  being  still  found  steadfast,  they  re- 


292       JOHN  ROUGH- — MARGARET  MEARING. 

solved  on  the  morrow  to  have  him  up  in  the  consistory,  and 
condemn  him.  Accordingly,  Bonner,  the  bishop  of  St. 
David's,  Fecknam,  and  others,  assembled  for  this  devout 
purpose:  and  Bonner  read  over  his  articles;  charging  him 
also  that  he,  having  received  the  orders  of  the  church, 
had  married  unlawfully;  and  that  he  had  refused  to  con- 
sent to  the  Latin  service  then  used.  He  told  them  in 
reply,  that  their  holy  orders  were  nothing  at  all:  that  he, 
being  a  priest,  might  marry;  and  that  his  children,  which 
he  had  by  his  wife,  were  lawful.  As  to  the  service  then 
used,  he  assured  them  he  utterly  detested  it ;  and  that  if 
he  should  live  as  long  as  Methusaleh,  he  would  never  come 
to  the  church,  to  hear  the  abominable  mass,  and  other  ser- 
vice, being  as  it  was  then.  On  this  the  bishop  proceeded 
to  degrade  him  from  the  ecclesiastical  rank ;  then  passed 
sentence,  and  delivered  him  to  the  secular  power  to  be 
burned. 

This  excellent  minister  had,  in  the  days  of  king  Edward, 
saved  the  life  of  Dr.  Watson,  who  was  near  being  put  to 
death  for  a  seditious  sermon  that  he  made  in  the  north. 
Watson  became  bishop  of  Lincoln,  and  being  present  at 
Rough's  examination  before  Bonner,  at  once  bore  testimony 
to  his  having  been  a  most  pernicious  heretic,  who  had  done 
more  hurt  in  the  north  than  a  hundred  others  of  his  opinion. 
Rough  remarked,  "  Why,  sir,  is  this  the  reward  I  have 
for  saving  your  life,  when  you  preached  erroneous  doctrine 
in  the  days  of  king  Edward?"  When  he  made  his  obser- 
vation respecting  the  pope's  doings  at  Rome,  Bonner  started 
up  from  his  seat,  pretended  to  rend  his  robes,  and  exclaim- 
ing, "  Hast  thou  been  at  Rome,  and  seen  our  holy  father 
the  pope,  and  dost  thou  blaspheme  him  after  that  sort!"  he 
sprang  upon  the  prisoner,  and  plucked  out  a  good  piece  of 
his  beard;  and  so  hastened  his  death  that  he  had  him  burnt 
before  half  past  six  o'clock  in  the  morning. 

It  was  observable,  that  when  Austoo,  and  his  fellow- 
martyrs  were  burned,  Mr.  Rough  being  among  the  specta- 
tators  was  met  on  his  way  home,  by  a  friend,  who  asked 
him  where  he  had  been.  He  answered,  "  I  have  been 
where  I  would  not  for  one  of  mine  eyes  but  have  been," 
"  Where?"  "  Forsooth,"  said  he,  "  to  learn  the  way." 
Then  he  told  him  he  had  been  at  the  burning  of  Austoo : 
and  in  the  same  place  it  was  shortly  his  turn  to  pass  through 
the  same  fiery  trial. 

Margaret  Mearing  was  brought  forth  to  her  examination 


CUTHBERT   SYMSOIV.  293 

with  Mr.  Rough  :  she  had  been  one  of  his  congregation; 
and  so  far  was  he  from  expecting  lo  find  in  her  a  stake- 
fellow,  that  he  entertained,  as  did  many  others,  strong  sus- 
picions of  her  sincerity.     She  was  always  too  busy;  and 
frequently  brought  in  strangers  among  them,  and  appear- 
ances were  so  much  against  her  that  Rough  had  proceeded 
so  far  as  to  excommunicate  her  from  their  little  Christian 
company,  only  on  the  Friday  before  he  was  taken.     This 
exceedintjly  grieved  and  offended  the  poor  woman  ;  and  in 
the  first  warmth  of  her  displeasure  she  said  to  a  friend  that 
she  would  remove  them  all:  but  shortly  after,  the  news  of 
their  pastor's  capture  dispelled  all  her  anger.     She  found 
that  none  of  his  friends  were  permitted  to  see  him  in  the 
bishop's  prison ;  so,  taking  a  clean  shirt  in  a  basket,  she 
presented  herself  as  his  sister,  got  admission  as  such,  and 
afibrded  him  no  small  comfort.   When  she  heard  that  Ser- 
geant was  suspected  of  having  betrayed  him,  she  went  to 
his  house,  and  inquired  if  Judas  dwelt  not  there.     She  was 
answered  that  there  dwelt  no  such  person  there.     "No?" 
said  she, "  dwelleth  not  Judas  here  that  betrayed  Christ? 
his  name  is  Sergeant."     Finding  that  she  could  not  speak 
with  him,  she  went  away.     A  few  days  afterwards,  while 
standing  at  the  end  of  Marklane,  she  saw  Cluny,  Bonner's 
summoner,  enter  her  house;  and  immediately  following  him, 
she  readily  delivered  herself  into  his  hands.    When  brought 
before  the  bishop,  she  answered  to  the  usual  articles,  with 
great  honesty  and  simplicity,  denouncing  the  mass  as  the 
cup  of  abominations  mentioned   by  St.  John ;  and   their 
church  as  that  of  Antichrist.    All  her  replies  were  equally 
distinct,  and  when,  after  the  usual  short  interval,  she  was 
again  called  on  to  say  whether  she  would  stand  to  those 
answers  ;  she  replied,  "  I  will  stand  to  them  unto  the  death; 
for  the  very  angels  of  heaven  do  laugh  you  to  scorn,  to  see 
your  abominations  that  you  use  in  the  church."     She  was 
then  condemned,  taken  to  Newgate,  and,  on  the  next  day 
but  one,  partook  the  crown  of  martyrdom  with  the  pastor 
who  had  little  hoped  to  find  in  her  such  constancy  of  faith. 
CuTKBERT  Symson  has  been  named,  as  being  taken  with 
Rough,  at  Islington:  he  was  a  deacon  in  the  same  congre- 
gation, for  zeal,  diligence,  and  affectionate  carefulness  among 
the  poor  persecuted  flock,  most  remarkable.     He  appears 
to  have  been  a  very  pattern  of  godliness,  patience,  and  sin- 
cerity: nor  was  it  a  small  measure  of  grace  that  enabled 
him  ta  endure,  as  he  did,  the  dreadful  barbarities  inflicted 
25* 


294  CUTHBERT    aYMSON. 

on  him,  which  he  has  thus  briefly  recorded  with  his  own 
hand.  He  had  been  sent  by  the  council  to  the  Tower,  on  the 
thirteenth  of  December.  "  On  the  Thursday  after,"  he 
writes,  "  I  was  called  into  the  warehouse,  before  the  con- 
stable of  the  Tower,  and  the  recorder  of  London,  Mr.  Cholm- 
ley:  they  commanded  me  to  tell  whom  I  did  will  to  come 
to  the  English  service.  I  answered,  I  would  declare  no- 
thing. Whereupon,  1  was  set  in  a  rack  of  iron,  the  space 
of  three  hours,  as  I  judged.  Then  they  asked  me  if  I 
would  tell  them:  I  answered  as  before.  Then  was  1  loosed, 
and  carried  to  my  lodging  again.  On  the  Sunday  after,  I 
was  brought  into  the  same  place  again,  before  the  lieuten- 
ant and  the  recorder  of  London,  and  they  examined  me. 
As  before  I  had  said,  I  answered.  Then  the  lieutenant  did 
swear  a  great  oath,  I  should  tell.  Then  did  they  bind  my 
two  fore-fingers  together,  and  put  a  small  arrow  betwixt 
them,  and  drew  it  through  so  fast  that  the  blood  followed, 
and  the  arrow  brake.  Then  they  racked  me  twice.  Then 
was  I  carried  to  my  lodging  again;  and  ten  days  after,  the 
lieutenant  asked  me  if  I  would  not  confess  that  which  before 
they  had  asked  me.  I  said,  I  had  said  as  much  as  I  would. 
Then  five  weeks  after  he  sent  me  unto  the  high  priest  (mean- 
ing Bonner)  where  I  was  greatly  assaulted,  and  at  whose 
hand  I  received  the  pope's  curse,  for  bearing  witness  of  the 
resurrection  of  Jesus  Christ,  And  thus  1  commend  you 
unto  God,  and  to  the  word  of  his  grace,  with  all  them  that 
unfeignedly  call  upon  the  name  of  Jesus;  desiring  God  of 
his  endless  mercy,  through  the  merits  of  his  dear  Son  Jesus 
Christ,  to  bring  us  all  to  his  everlasting  kingdom.  Amen, 
I  praise  God  for  his  great  mercy  showed  upon  us.  Sing 
hosanna  unto  the  Highest  with  me,  Cuthbert  Symson,  God 
forgive  me  my  sins !  I  ask  all  the  world  forgiveness,  and 
I  do  forgive  all  the  world ;  and  thus  I  leave  this  world,  in 
hope  of  a  joyful  resurrection," 

It  pleased  God  to  force  from  the  wretch  Bonner  himself 
a  testimony  in  favour  of  this  meek  and  holy  man ;  even 
besides  the  strong  testimony  that  the  pope's  curse,  and  his 
church's  ban,  must  always  afford  to  those  who  are  so  hap- 
py as  to  fall  under  it.  When  Symson  was  brought  before 
the  consistory,  to  receive  sentence,  the  bishop  turned  to  the 
people,  and  bade  them  observe  the  comeliness  of  his  fine 
person ;  then  added,  "  And  furthermore,  concerning  his 
■patience,  I  say  unto  you,  that  if  he  were  not  a  heretic  he 
ia  a  man  of  the  greatest  patience  that  ever  yet  came  before 


VARIOUS    MABTYRS.  295 

me ;  for  I  tell  you  he  hath  been  thrice  racked  upon  one 
day  in  the  Tower.  Also  in  my  house  he  hath  felt  some 
sorrow;  yet  I  never  saw  his  patience  broken."  The  "  some 
sorrow"  which  this  savage  bishop  admitted  the  gentle  mar- 
tyr had  felt  in  his  house,  consisted  in  most  cruel  torturing, 
which  Symson  alludes  to  as  having  been  "  greatly  assault- 
ed." It  is  not  possible  to  dwell  upon  the  conduct  of  such  a 
grievous  wolf,  while  rending  Christ's  innocent  sheep :  but 
as  Cuthbert  Symson's  afflictions  abounded  above  those  of 
many  his  dear  brethren,  so  likewise  did  his  consolations 
much  more  abound.  The  Lord  vouchsafed  him  very  sin- 
gular tokens  of  his  divine  presence,  and  filled  his  soul  with 
rejoicing.     Of  this  he  has  left  some  note  in  his  writings. 

Three  months  elapsed  between  the  first  racking  of  this 
martyr  and  his  public  appearance  before  his  wicked  judges. 
It  is  very  probable,  that  he  was  not  in  a  stale  to  be  produced 
in  the  sight  of  the  people  f  for  even  popish  England,  in 
Mary's  days,  had  not  attained  to  that  eminence  in  piety 
which  could  render  the  mangled  flesh  and  dislocated  joints 
of  Christ's  servants  a  gratifying  spectacle  to  the  populace. 
When,  at  last,  Symson  was  brought  forth,  and  Bonner  had 
spoken  as  we  have  declared,  of  his  patience,  articles  were 
ministered,  of  the  usual  purport;  and  he  fully  assented  to 
all,  excepting  the  last,  which  having  a  tendency  to  impli- 
cate others,  he  refused  to  reply  to. 

Together  with  Rough  and  Symson  had  two  others  of  the 
Lord's  congregation  been  apprehended ;  Hugh  Fox,  and 
John  Devenish.  They  were  examined  with  Symson,  and 
holding  the  same  faith  steadfastly  unto  the  end,  they  were 
with  him  sentenced,  and  all  consumed  in  one  fire,  near  the 
end  of  March,  1558. 

At  Haverfordwest,  in  Wales,  the  merciless  tormentors 
laid  hold  on  a  poor  man,  named  William  Nichol,  who 
was  so  simple  as  to  be  esteemed  half  foolish.  He  was 
charged  with  having  spoken  some  words  against  the  cruel 
kingdom  of  Antichrist.  The  particulars  are  not  known; 
but  as  the  Romish  church  judged  him  worthy  to  suffer  a 
most  dreadful  death,  there  is  good  ground  to  hope  that  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  had  made  him  worthy  of  eternal  life. 

The  next  sacrifice  fell  to  the  lot  of  bishop  Hopton,  of 
Norwich,  to  offer.  William  Seaman,  a  husbandman,  of 
Mendlesham,  in  Suffolk;  Thomas  Hudson, a  glover,  of  Ayl- 
sham,  in  Norfolk;  and  Thomas  Carman,  who  had  pledged 
Crashfield  at  his  burning,  were  the  three  victims  provided. 


296  THOMAS   HtTDSON. 

Seaman  had  long  been  sought  after,  by  the  command  of  sir 
John  Tyrrel,  but  escaped,  although  that  persecuting  knight 
himself  searched  the  house  for  him  one  night.  At  length, 
however,  he  was  taken,  by  means  of  a  traitor,  whom  he 
considered  his  friend.  That  portion  of  their  Master's  cup 
very  often  fell  to  the  lot  of  the  disciples  in  those  days:  and 
it  was  observed,  that  Baulding,  the  treacherous  betrayer, 
although  in  the  vigour  of  life  and  health  at  the  time,  never 
after  seemed  to  thrive,  but  pined  and  withered  away.  When 
Seaman  came  to  sir  John  Tyrrel,  who  asked  him  why  he 
would  not  go  to  mass,  and  receive  the  sacrament,  and  wor- 
ship it,  he  replied,  that  it  was  no  sacrament,  but  an  idol; 
therefore  he  would  not  receive  it.  He  was  forthwith  sent 
to  bishop  Hopton,  who  lost  no  time  in  condemning  him. 
Seaman  was  only  twenty-six  years  old:  he  left  a  wife  with 
three  little  infants;  and  she,  for  maintaining  the  same  truth, 
was  driven  from  her  native  place  a  beggar. 

Thomas  Hudson  was  also  a  young  man,  an  honest,  in- 
dustrious artisan,  who,  in  the  happy  times  of  Edward,  pro- 
fited greatly  in  true  religion.  About  two  years  before  the 
king's  death  he  learned  to  read,  and  by  that  meatjp  secured 
to  himself  the  use  of  God's  pure  lamp,  when  all  the  land 
became  wrapt  in  darkness.  When  the  service  of  the 
church  was  changed  by  Mary,  chaff  being  substituted  for 
wheat,  and  in  place  of  good  preaching  a  blasphemous  cry 
against  truth  and  godliness,  Hudson  forsook  the  parish 
church,  left  his  house  and  travelled  to  and  fro  in  Suffolk. 
At  length  being  anxious  about  his  wife  and  three  little  chil- 
dren, he  returned  home,  where  they  contrived  to  form  a 
sort  of  chamber  inside  a  pile  of  logs,  in  which  he  could  sit 
all  day  concealed,  his  poor  wife  taking  great  care  the 
while;  and  thus  he  remained  for  the  space  of  six  months, 
continually  reading  and  praying. 

The  vicar  of  the  town  was  one  Berry,  an  evil  man,  one 
of  Bonner's  commissioners:  he  came  to  Hudson's  wife,  and 
asked  for  her  husband ;  and  on  her  affecting  ignorance  of 
bis  abode,  he  railed  at,  and  threatened  to  burn  her.  When 
Hudson  heard  of  this,  his  zeal  and  devotion  seemed  to  in- 
crease daily:  he  read,  and  sang  psalms,  almost  without 
ceasing ;  and  many  of  the  people  resorted  to  him  for  in- 
struction and  encouragement.  After  a  little  time,  he  left 
his  concealment  and  walked  about  the  town,  openly  crying 
out  against  the  mass,  and  all  their  trumpery:  then,  return- 
ing home,  he  placed  himself  on  his  knees,  with  his  book 


THOMAS    HUDSON.  297 

beside  him,  and  so  remained  for  three  days,  refusing  meat, 
and  incessantly  engaged  in  prayer  or  praise.  His  next 
door  neighbour,  perceiving  this,  went  for  the  constables, 
who,  coming  into  his  house  at  break  of  day,  easily  laid 
hold  on  him. 

Hudson,  on  seeing  them  enter,  said,  "  Now  mine  hour 
is  come:  welcome,  friends,  welcome.  You  be  they  that 
shall  lead  me  to  life  in  Christ;  I  thank  God  therefore." 
And  so  he  continued  from  that  time  to  pray  that,  if  it  were 
the  Lord's  will,  he  might  suffer  for  the  gospel  of  Christ. 
When  Berry  saw  him,  he  asked  him  where  he  kept  his 
church  for  four  years  before.  Hudson  replied,  that  where- 
soever he  was,  there  was  his  church.  Berry  inquired  whe- 
ther he  did  not  believe  in  the  sacrament  of  the  altar,  and 
what  he  took  it  to  be?  "  It  is  worm's  meat,"  answered  he : 
"  my  belief  is  in  Christ  crucified."  Dost  thou  not  believe 
the  mass  to  put  away  sins  ?"  said  the  vicar.  "  No  ;  God 
forbid.  It  is  a  patched  monster,  and  a  disguised  puppet; 
longer  a  piecing  than  ever  was  Solomon's  temple."  At  this 
Berry  stamped,  raged,  stormed,  and  at  last  said,  "  Well, 
thou  villian,  thou;  I  will  write  to  the  bishop,  my  good  lord; 
and  trust  unto  it,  thou  shall  be  handled  according  to  thy 
deserts."  "  Oh,  sir,"  said  Hudson,  "  there  is  no  Lord  but 
God,  though  there  be  many  lords,  and  many  gods."  Berry 
then  gave  him  a  furious  thrust  with  his  hand;  and  a  per- 
son who,  standing  by,  and  seeing  his  violence,  ventured  to 
say,  "  I  pray  you,  sir,  be  good  to  the  poor  man,"  immedi- 
ately fell  under  suspicion  of  heresy.  Berry  requiring  him  to 
be  bound  under  a  penalty  of  forty  pounds  for  his  good  con- 
duct both  in  word  and  deed  ;  which,  however,  was  not  done. 
Then  he  asked  Hudson  if  he  would  recant,  who  answered, 
"  The  Lord  forbid  !  I  had  rather  die  many  deaths  than  to 
do  so."  He  was  then  bound  like  a  thief,  and  sent  off  to  the 
bishop,  singing  all  the  way  to  Norwich;  and  during  a 
month's  imprisonment  there  he  was  ever  studying  God's 
word,  and  praising  his  name. 

This  devoted  man,  along  with  Seaman  and  Carman, 
were  taken  to  Lollards'  pit,  where  the  blessed  martyr  Eil- 
ney  had  yielded  his  life,  and  having  humbly  prayed  to  the 
Lord,  they  rose  and  went  to  the  stake,  where,  after  the 
chain  was  cast  round  them,  they  stood  for  a  little  space ; 
and  then,  to  the  great  wonder  and  alarm  of  many,  who 
feared  he  was  going  to  renounce  the  faith,  Hudson  slipped 
from   under   his   chain,  and  came  forward.     While  the 


298  HAINS DAY — GEORGE. 

standers-by  were  forming  different  opinions  about  him,  the 
two  men  at  the  stake  earnestly  cried  out  to  comfort  and 
strengthen  him,  under  his  evident  affliction.  It  was  not 
the  fear  of  death,  but  a  lack  of  feeling  of  that  full  assurance 
of  Christ's  love  to  his  soul,  which  he  had  before  enjoyed, 
that  now  dismayed  him.  He  fell  on  his  knees,  humbly  and 
vehemently  crying  to  the  Lord,  who,  according  to  his  infi- 
nite mercies,  sent  him  the  comfort  he  needed.  Then  he 
arose  with  great  joy,  as  one  endued  with  new  life,  and  said, 
"  Now,  I  thank  God,  I  am  strong,  and  care  not  what  man 
can  do  unto  me."  He  returned  to  the  stake ;  and  all  three, 
most  joyfully,  constantly,  and  manfully,  endured  the  tor- 
ment that  set  their  spirits  free. 

That  miserable  persecutor,  Berry,  continued  most  fiercely 
to  torment  God's  people  at  Aylsham.  He  caused  two  hun- 
dred at  one  time  to  do  public  penance,  murdered  a  poor 
man  of  his  parish  with  a  blow  from  a  flail,  and  felled  a 
woman  with  his  fist,  who  died  the  next  day.  A  godly  man, 
named  Norgate,  he  so  hunted  and  harassed  that  he  died  in 
consumption :  and  all  the  while  Berry  lived  a  life  of  such 
open,  scandalous  profligacy,  squandering  his  great  riches  on 
vile  characters,  as  to  be  a  wonder  to  the  people :  he  was 
also  a  dreadful  swearer.  Thus  he  went  on,  until  the  un- 
welcome news  of  queen  Mary's  death  arrived,  when,  in- 
stead of  paying  any  respect  to  her  memory,  this  man,  who 
doubtless  intended  to  be  whatever  the  next  government 
might  approve,  made,  on  the  following  Sunday,  a  great 
feast  at  his  house,  having  with  him  a  companion  of  vile 
character,  until  the  hour  of  even-song,  when  he  went  to  the 
church,  administered  baptism,  and  going  homeward,  fell 
down  in  the  church-yard.  With  one  heavy  groan  he  then 
passed  into  the  eternal  world. 

The  mother  of  Seaman,  a  very  aged  and  godly  woman, 
was  so  persecuted  for  the  faith,  that  she  was  glad  to  lie 
in  the  fields,  groves,  and  bushes;  which,  having  lived  al- 
ways in  respectability  and  comfort,  no  doubt  hastened  her 
death. 

At  Colchester  three  martyrs  suffered,  very  soon  after 
those  at  Norwich.  They  were  William  Hains,  Richard 
Day,  and  Christian  George.  The  woman  last  named 
had  married  the  widower  of  Agnes  George,  who  had  been 
burned  at  Stralford-le-Bow  with  twelve  others.  She  was 
not  long  in  attaining  the  same  glorious  crown.  After  her 
martyrdom,  her  husband  took  a  third  wife,  also  a  godl.y 


THE    CUP    BRIMMED.  299 

woman;  and  was,  with  her  apprehended  and  laid  in  pri- 
son :  but  it  pleased  God  to  save  them,  with  many  more, 
from  the  flames,  by  the  removal  of  their  great  enemy. 
These  three,  who  suffered  at  Colchester,  left  no  account  of 
their  examinations.  They  died  gladly  with  prayer  and 
praise  upon  their  lips;  and  their  record,  with  their  souls, 
is  on  high. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

THE   CUP    BRIMMED,    AND    THE    CHURCH    DELIVERED. 

The  Lord  was  now  about  to  answer  the  groaning  of  his 
captive  people,  and  according  to  the  greatness  of  his  mercy, 
to  preserve  many  who  were  appointed  to  die.  Midsummer 
had  arrived;  and  before  the  close  of  the  year,  already  half 
past,  the  last  prayer  of  the  blessed  young  Edward  was  to  be 
granted,  and  his  realm  delivered  from  papistry.  Philpot's 
ofl-repeated  aspiration,  "God  shorten  your  cruel  kingdom, 
for  his  mercies'  sake !"  was  more  frequently  in  the  mouths 
of  the  martyrs.  The  Lord  taught  them  so  to  pr«y,  because 
he  will  always  be  inquired  of  by  his  people,  for  the  mer- 
cies that  he  is  about  to  bestow.  Many  a  blazing  pyre  was 
yet  to  redden  the  sky  of  England :  but  in  a  few  short 
months  the  wearied  and  scattered  church  was  destined  to 
see  the  savage  murderess  of  God's  people  taken  from  her 
blood-stained  throne  into  a  fearful  eternity.  Mary's  days 
were  numbered;  and  as  their  time  shortened  the  rage  of 
the  persecutors  seemed  to  increase. 

Early  in  the  month  of  June,  a  proclamation,  short  but 
sharp,  came  out  by  royal  authority,  commanding  that  who- 
soever possessed  heretical  books,  whereof,  of  course,  the 
Bible  was  chief,  should  immediately  burn  them,  without 
showing  or  reading  them  to  any  other  person;  or  failing  so 
to  do,  should,  on  discovery,  be  taken  up,  and  without  delay 
be  executed  as  a  rebel  and  traitor,  according  to  martial  law. 

It  was  not  long  before  an  opportunity  was  given  to 
manifest  the  fresh  ardour  of  persecution,  which  these  san- 
guinary edicts»never  failed  to  enkindle  in  the  willing  instru- 
ments of  papal  cruelty.     Within  a  few  days  from  the  pro- 


300  VARIOUS    MARTYRS. 

mulgation  of  the  foregoing  a  party  of  forty  innocent  and 
godly  persons  having  ventured  to  assemble  in  a  back  close 
or  thicket,  situate  in  the  field  by  Islington,  seated  them- 
selves on  the  ground,  for  mutual  exhortation,  prayer,  and 
study  of  God's  word.  While  they  were  thus  employed,  a 
stranger  came  up,  who  looking  at  them,  stopped,  saluted 
them,  and  observed  they  looked  like  men  who  meant  no 
hurt.  One  of  the  company  asked  him  whether  he  could 
tell  whose  close  it  was;  and  if  they  might  be  so  bold  as  to 
sit  there.  He  answered,  "  Yea,  for  ye  seem  unto  me  such 
persons  as  intend  no  harm."  He  then  departed;  and  the 
poor  flock  continued  their  employment.  In  less  than  a 
quarter  of  an  hour  afterwards,  the  constable  of  Islington, 
named  King,  accompanied  by  six  or  seven  armed  men, 
approached.  He  left  his  attendants  in  a  covert  hard  by, 
and  proceeding  alone,  walked  through  the  party,  observing 
what  they  were  doing,  and  what  books  they  had.  When 
he  had  thus  passed  along,  he  returned  in  the  same  way, 
calling  on  them  to  deliver  their  books.  They  knew  him 
to  be  the  constable,  and  therefore,  with  the  obedience  ever 
shown  by  the  Lord's  people  to  legal  authority,  they  gave 
up  the  books ;  on  which  the  concealed  band  came  forth, 
ordering  them  to  stand,  and  not  to  depart.  They  replied, 
they  were  ready  to  obey,  and  to  go  wheresoever  they  were 
commanded  ;  and  so  were  taken  first  to  a  brew-house  near 
the  spot,  while  some  of  the  soldiers  ran  for  a  neighbouring 
justice.  He  was  from  home ;  and  then  they  took  their 
prisoners  to  Sir  Roger  Cholmley.  The  women  escaped  by 
the  way:  so,  indeed,  nearly  the  whole  party  might  have 
done,  had  they  chosen  it :  but  twenty-two  men  remained 
in  custody,  and  were  by  this  Cholmley  committed  to  New- 
gate. Two  died  in  prison:  seven  escaped  with  their  lives, 
without  renouncing  the  faith:  probably  through  the  changes 
that  soon  followed:  and  thirteen  were  burnt,  in  two  com- 
panies, one  at  Smithfield,  and  the  other  at  Brentford. 

The  first  were  brought  before  Bonner  on  the  fourteenth 
of  June.  Their  names  were  as  follows :  Henry  Pond, 
Reynold  Eastland,  Robert  Southam,  Matthew  Ri- 
CARBY,  John  Floyd,  John  Holliday,  and  Roger  Hol- 
land. The  story  of  Holland  is  particularly  interesting : 
he  had  been  apprenticed  to  a  merchant  tailor  in  London, 
to  whom  he  caused  no  small  trouble,  being  a  most  wild  and 
licentious  youth.  His  early  training  had  been  evil,  and  all 
the  efforts  of  his  master  could  not  break  his  dissipated  habits, 


ROGER   HOLLAND.  301 

or  win  him  from  courses  that  had  seemed  to  promise  any 
end  rather  than  that  to  which  God  called  him.  He  was  a 
bigoted  Romanist;  given  to  reveling,  gambling,  and  the 
worst  company:  yet,  finding  him  perlectly  honest,  his  mas- 
ter still  trusted  him  with  his  accounts.  One  day,  having  re- 
ceived for  him  a  sum  of  thirty  pounds,  Holland,  falling,  as  he 
usually  did,  into  bad  company,  lost  every  groat  at  dice ; 
and  having  no  possible  way  to  replace  it,  resolved  to  escape 
beyond  sea.  Having  thus  made  up  his  mind,  he  went  home 
very  early  in  the  morning,  and  called  to  him  a  servant  of 
the  house,  named  Elizabeth,  a  steady  woman,  a  true  fol- 
lower of  Christ,  who  had  never  failed  to  reprove  both  the 
idolatrous  religion  and  the  profligate  life  of  young  Holland. 
He  said  to  her,  "  Elizabeth,  I  would  I  had  followed  thy 
gentle  persuasions  and  friendly  rebukes;  which  if  I  had 
done,  I  had  never  come  to  this  shame  and  misery  which  I 
am  now  fallen  into;  for  this  night  have  I  lost  thirty  pounds 
of  my  master's  money,  which  to  pay  him,  and  to  make  up 
my  accounts,  I  am  not  able.  But  this  much  I  pray  you 
desire  my  mistress,  that  she  would  entreat  my  master  to 
take  this  note  of  hand,  that  I  am  thus  much  indebted  to 
him;  and  if  I  be  ever  able,  I  will  see  him  paid :  desiring 
him  that  the  matter  may  pass  in  silence,  and  that  none  ot" 
my  kindred  or  friends  may  ever  understand  this  my  wicked 
part.  For  if  it  should  come  unto  my  father's  ears,  it  would 
bring  his  gray  hairs  oversoon  to  the  grave."  He  was  then 
departing,  but  Elizabeth,  touched  with  pity,  and  led  by  the 
Spirit  of  God,  cried  out,  "Stay:"  and  having  a  sum  of 
money  in  her  possession,  bequeathed  by  a  kinsman,  she 
ran  and  brought  thirty  pounds,  saying,  "  Roger,  here  is 
thus  much  money;  I  will  let  thee  have  it,  and  I  will  keep 
thy  bill.  But  since  I  do  thus  much  for  thee,  to  help  thee, 
and  to  save  thy  honesty,  thou  shalt  promise  me  to  refuse 
all  loose  and  wild  company,  all  swearing,  and  unchaste  talk; 
and  if  ever  I  know  thee  to  play  one  twelve-pence  at  either 
dice  or  cards,  then  will  I  show  this  bill  unto  thy  master. 
And  furthermore,  thou  shalt  promise  me  to  resort  every 
day  to  the  lecture  at  All-hallows,  and  the  sermon  at  Paul's 
every  Sunday,  and  to  cast  away  all  thy  books  of  papisty 
and  vain  ballads,  and  get  the  Testament,  and  book  of  ser- 
vice, and  read  the  Scriptures  with  reverence  and  fear,  call- 
ing unto  God  still  for  his  grace  to  direct  thee  in  his  truth. 
And  pray  unto  God  fervently,  desiring  him  to  pardon  thy 
former  offences,  and  not  to  remember  the  sins  of  thy  youth ; 

MARTYROLOGT. VOL.  II.  26 


302  ROGER    HOLLAND. 

and  ever  be  afraid  to  break  his  laws,  or  offend  his  majesty. 
Then  shall  God  keep  thee,  and  send  thee  thy  heart's  de- 
sire." 

Who  can  avoid  being  touched  by  this  lovely  instance  of 
Christian  bounty  in  an  humble  servant-maid  ?  There  is 
one  point  in  it  where  we  desire  to  pause,  and  gather  an  im- 
portant lesson.  In  our  day  it  is  not  unfrequent,  particu- 
larly in  Ireland,  to  hear  the  remark  made  by  Protestants, 
that  they  cannot  accompany  their  charitable  alms  to  the 
poor  Romanists  by  the  better  gift  of  spiritual  instruction, 
because  they  might  lay  themselves  open  to  the  charge  of 
bribing  them  to  renounce  their  religion.  That  such  accu- 
sation will  be  brought  by  God's  enemies  is  certain ;  but  it 
is  equally  certain  that  the  Christian,  in  doing  his  Master's 
work,  must  pass  through  good  report  and  evil  report  too. 
Now,  we  have  seen,  in  this  instance,  that  Elizabeth  used 
the  desperate  state  from  which  young  Holland  could  only 
be  delivered  by  her  bounty,  as  a  means  to  bring -him  from 
popery;  and  even  to  make  him  attend  the  preaching  of  the 
gospel  in  her  parish  church;  for  this  took  place  in  Edward's 
reign.  Whether  or  no  God  blessed  the  act  to  the  object 
of  her  generous  and  faithful  efforts,  let  the  sfequel  of  the 
story  show.  And  may  it  sink  deep  into  the  hearljfe  of  those 
who  fear  to  make  God's  temporal  gifts  a  means  for  bring- 
ing the  poor  and  needy  to  hear  the  joyful  sound  of  his 
gospel !  ■  I      "^ 

Roger  Holland  promised,  and  fulfilled  it;  and  within 
one  half  year,  says  Fox,  God  had  wrought  such  a, change 
in  this  man,  that  he  was  an  earnest  professor  of  thp  trutn, 
and  detested  all  papistry  and  evil  company,  so  that  he  wSs 
an  admiration  to  all  them  that  had  known  him,  syid  seeft- 
his  former  life  and  wickedness.  Then  he  repairec^  into 
Lancashire,  unto  his  father,  and  brought  with  him  many 
good  books,  which  he  bestowed  on  his  friends ;  so  that  his 
parents  and  others  began  to  taste  the  sweets  of  the  gospel, 
and  to  detest  the  mass,  with  all  idolatry  and  superstition. 
When  they  parted,  his  father  gave  him  the  sum  of  fifty 
pounds,  wherewith  to  begin  the  world.  Roger  hastened  to 
London,  with  this  treasure,  and  coming  to  his  first,  best 
earthly  friend,  he  said,  "  Elizabeth,  here  is  thy  money  I 
borrowed  of  thee ;  and  for  the  friendship,  good  will,  and 
good  counsel  I  have  received  at  thy  hands,  to  recompense 
thee  I  am  not  able,  otherwise  than  to  make  thee  my  wife." 
They  were  married  in  the  first  year  of  queen  Mary ;  and 


ROGER    HOLLAND.  303 

Elizabeth  bearing  a  child,  Holland  had  it  baptized  in  his 
own  house  by  a  godly  minister;  and  then  carried  it  into  the 
country,  to  save  it  from  the  contaminating  hands  of  the 
priests.  For  this  he  was  reported  to  the  enemies,  who,  in 
his  absence,  searched  the  house,  and  seized  his  goods; 
while  his  wife  suffered  most  cruel  usage  at  the  hands  of 
Bonner.  Holland,  on  his  return,  concealed  himself  in  the 
city,  until,  assembling  with  the  congregation  of  the  faith- 
ful, at  Islington,  near  St.  John's  Wood,  he  was  taken  with 
the  rest. 

When  brought  before  Bonner,  Chedsey,  the  Harpsfields, 
and  others,  he  was  assailed  with  many  fair  words  and 
crafty  persuasions;  the  bishop  himself  thus  commencing : 
"  Holland,  I  for  my  part  do  wish  well  unto  thee,  and  the 
more  for  thy  friends'  sake.  And  Dr.  Standish  telleth  me 
you  and  he  were  both  born  in  one  parish,  and  he  knoweth 
your  father  to  be  a  very  honest  catholic  gentleman:  and 
Mr.  Doctor  told  me  that  he  talked  with  you  a  year  ago; 
and  found  you  very  wilfully  addict  to  your  own  conceit. 
Divers  of  the  city  also  have  showed  me  of  you,  that  you 
have  been  a  great  procurer  of  men's  servants  to  be  of  your 
religion,  and  to  come  to  your  congregations  ;  but  since  you 
be  now  in  the  danger  of  the  law,  I  would  wish  you  to  play 
a  vvise  man's  part :  so  shall  you  not  want  any  favour  I  can 
do  or  procure  for  you,  both  for  your  own  sake,  and  also 
for  your  friends',  which  be  men  of  worship  and  credit,  and 
wish  you  well ;  and  by  my  troth,  Roger,  so  do  I."  Then 
said  Mr.  Eaglestone,  a  Lancashire  gentleman,  and  near 
kinsman  to  Holland,  who  was  present,  "  I  thank  your  good 
lordship :  your  honour  meaneth  good  unto  my  cousin.  I 
beseech  God  he  have  the  grace  to  follow  your  counsel." 
"  Sir,  you  crave  of  God  you  know  not  what,"  said  Hol- 
land: "  I  beseech  God  to  open  your  eyes  to  see  the  light 
of  his  word."  "Roger,  hold  your  peace,"  exclaimed  the 
kinsman,  "  lest  you  fare  the  worse  at  my  lord's  hands." 
"  No,"  said  Holland,  "  I  shall  fare  as  it  pieaseth  God;  for 
man  can  do  no  more  than  God  doth  permit  him." 

Then  the  bishop,  the  doctors,  and  Johnson  the  register, 
consulted  for  a  while;  after  which  Johnson  spake:  "  Roger, 
how  sayest  thou?  wilt  thou  submit  thyself  unto  my  lord, 
before  thou  be  entered  into  the  book  of  contempt?"  Holland 
answered,  "  I  never  meant  but  to  submit  myself  to  the  ma- 
gistrate, as  I  learn  of  St.  Paul's  to  the  Romans,  chap,  xiii:" 
and  so  recited  the  text.     "  Then  I  see  you  are  no  anabap- 


304  KOGER    HOLLAND. 

tist,"  remarked  Chedsey.  Holland  replied,  "  I  mean  not 
yet  to  be  a  papist ;  for  they  and  the  anabaptists  agree  in 
this  point,  not  to  submit  themselves  to  any  other  prince  or 
magistrate  than  those  that  must  first  be  sworn  to  maintain 
them  and  their  doings."  Chedsey  bade  him  remember  what 
he  had  said,  and  what  the  bishop  had  promised:  and  also 
to  take  heed,  for  that  his  ripeness  of  wit  had  brought  him 
into  these  errors.  After  some  further  whispering  together, 
Bonner  said,  "  Roger,  I  perceive  thou  wilt  be  ruled  by  no 
good  counsel,  for  any  thing  that  I  or  your  friends,  or  any 
other  can  say."  Holland  answered,  "  I  may  say  to  you, 
my  lord,  as  Paul  said  to  Felix,  and  to  the  Jews,  as  doth  ap- 
pear in  the  two-and-twentieth  of  the  Acts,  and  in  the  fif- 
teenth of  the  first  epistle  to  the  Corinthians.  It  is  not  un- 
known unto  my  master  whom  I  was  apprentice  withal,  that 
I  was  of  this  your  blind  religion  that  is  now  taught,  and 
therein  did  obstinately  and  wilfully  remain,  until  the  latter 
end  of  king  Edward,  in  a  manner;  having  that  liberty  un- 
der your  auricular  confession,  that  I  made  no  conscience 
of  sin,  but  trusted  in  the  priest's  absolution  ;  he,  for  money, 
also  doing  some  penance  for  me ;  which  after  I  had  given, 
I  cared  not  what  further  offences  I  did,  no  more  than  he 
passed,  after  he  had  my  money,  whether  he  tasted  bread 
and  water  for  me  or  no:  so  that  uncleanness,  swearing, 
and  all  other  vices,  I  accounted  no  ofl^ence  or  danger,  so 
long  as  I  could  for  money  have  them  absolved.  So  straitly 
did  I  observe  your  rules  of  religion,  that  I  would  have 
ashes  upon  Ash  Wednesday,  though  I  had  used  never  so 
much  wickedness  at  night:  and  albeit  I  could  not  in  con- 
science eat  flesh  upon  Friday,  yet  in  swearing,  drinking, 
or  dicing,  all  the  night  long,  I  made  no  conscience  at  all. 
And  thus  was  I  brought  up ;  and  herein  have  I  continued 
till  now  of  late,  that  God  hath  opened  the  light  of  his  word, 
and  called  me,  by  his  grace,  to  repentance  of  my  former 
idolatry  and  wicked  life  :  for  in  Lancashire  their  blindness 
and  licentiousness  is  overmuch  more  than  may  with  chaste 
ears  be  heard.  Yet  these,  my  friends,  which  are  not  clear, 
in  these  notable  crimes,  think  the  priest  with  his  mass  can 
save  them,  though  they  blaspheme  God,  and  are  unfaithful 
to  their  marriage-vow  as  long  as  they  live.  Yea,  I  know 
some  priests  very  devout,  my  lord ,"  and  then  he  de- 
clared how  deeply  those  priests  were  themselves  guilty  of 
the  sins  for  which  they  dispensed  their  pretended  absolu- 
tions to  the  laity. 


ROGER    HOLLAND.  305 

He  proceeded  :  "  Master  doctor,  now  to  your  antiquity, 
unity,  and  universality  (three  points  alledged  by  Chedsey 
in  proof  of  their  religion).  I  am  unlearned.  I  have  no 
sophistry  to  shift  my  reasons  withal ;  but  the  truth  I  trust 
I  have,  which  needeth  no  painted  colours  to  set  her  forth. 
The  antiquity  of  our  church  is  not  from  pope  Nicholas,  or 
pope  Joan,  but  our  church  is  from  the  beginning,  even  from 
the  time  that  God  said  unto  Adam,  that  the  seed  of  the  wo- 
man should  break  the  serpent's  head:  and  so  to  faithful 
Noah,  to  Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Jacob,  to  whom  it  was  pro- 
mised that  their  seed  should  multiply  as  the  stars  in  the 
sky:  and  so  to  Moses,  David,  and  all  the  holy  fathers  that 
were  froin  the  beginning,  unto  the  birth  of  our  Saviour 
Christ.  All  they  that  believed  these  promises  were  of  the 
church,  though  the  number  were  oftentimes  but  few  and 
small,  as  in  Elias'  days,  when  he  thought  there  was  none 
but  he  that  had  not  bowed  their  knees  to  Baal,  when  God 
had  reserved  seven  thousand  that  never  had  bowed  their 
knees  to  that  idol;  as  I  trust  there  be  seven  hundred  thou- 
sand more  than  I  know  of,  that  have  not  bowed  their  knees 
to  the  idol  your  mass,  and  your  god  Mauzzim  :  the  uphold- 
ing whereof  is  your  bloody  cruelty,  whiles  you  daily  per- 
secute Elias  and  the  servants  of  God,  forcing  them — as 
Daniel  was,  in  his  chamber — closely  to  serve  the  Lord 
their  God:  even  as  we,  by  this  your  cruelty,  are  forced  in 
the  fields  to  pray  unto  God  that  his  holy  word  may  be  once 
again  truly  preached  among  us,  and  that  he  would  mitigate 
and  shorten  these  idolatrous  and  bloody  days,  wherein  all 
cruelty  reigneth.  Moreover,  of  our  church  have  been  the 
apostles  and  evangelists,  the  martyrs,  and  confessors  of 
Christ,  that  have  at  all  times  and  in  all  ages  been  perse- 
cuted for  the  testimony  of  the  word  of  God.  But  for  the 
upholding  of  your  church  and  religion,  what  antiquity  can 
you  show?  Yea,  the  mass,  that  idol  and  chief  pillar  of 
your  religion,  is  not  yet  four  hundred  years  old  ;  and  some 
of  your  masses  are  younger,  as  your  mass  of  St.  Thomas 
a  Becket,  the  traitor,  wherein  you  pray  that  you  may  be 
saved  by  the  blood  of  St.  Thomas.  And  as  for  your  Latin 
service,  what  are  we  of  the  laity  the  better  for  it?  I  think 
he  that  should  hear  your  priests  mumble  up  their  service, 
although  he  did  well  understand  Latin,  yet  should  he  un- 
derstand few  words  thereof:  the  priests  do  so  champ  and 
chew  them,  and  post  so  fast,  that  neither  they  understand 
what  they  say,  nor  they  that  hear  them  :  and  in  the  mean 

28* 


306  ROGER    HOLLAND. 

time,  the  people,  when  they  shotild  pray  with  the  priest, 
are  set  to  their  beads,  to  pray  our  lady's  psalter.  So  crafty 
is  Satan  to  devise  these  his  dreams,  which  you  defend  with 
fagot  and  fire,  to  quench  the  light  of  the  word  of  God, 
which,  as  David  saith,  should  be  a  lantern  to  our  feet. 
And  again  :  '  Wherein  shall  a  young  man  direct  his  ways, 
but  by  the  word  of  God?'  And  yet  you  will  hide  it  from 
us  in  a  tongue  unknown.  St.  Paul  had  rather  in  the 
church  to  have  five  words  spoken  with  understanding,  than 
ten  thousand  in  an  unknown  tongue;  and  yet  will  you  have 
your  Latin  service,  and  praying  in  a  strange  tongue,  where- 
of the  people  are  utterly  ignorant,  to  be  of  such  antiquity. 
The  Greek  church,  and  a  good  part  of  Christendom  be- 
sides, never  received  your  service  in  an  unknown  tongue, 
but  in  their  own  natural  language,  which  all  the  people  un- 
derstand :  neither  yet  your  transubstaniiation,  your  receiv- 
ing all  alone,  your  purgatory,  your  images,  &c.  As  for 
the  unity  which  is  in  your  church,  what  is  it  else  but  trea- 
son, murder,  poisoning  one  another,  idolatry,  superstition, 
wickedness  ?  What  unity  was  in  your  church  when  there 
were  three  popes  at  once?  Where  was  your  head  of  unity 
when  you  had  a  woman  pope?"  Here  he  was  interrupted  by 
Bonner  exclaiming,  "  Roger,  these  thy  words  are  very  blas- 
phemy; and  by  means  of  thy  friends  thou  hast  been  suffered 
to  speak,  and  art  over  malapert  to  teach  any  here.  There- 
fore, keeper,  have  him  away." 

So  Holland  was  taken  back  to  prison,  after  telling  them 
a  greater  variety  of  unwelcome  truths  than  they  were  usu- 
ally in  the  habit  of  hearing.  When  he  and  the  other  pris- 
oners were  brought  to  their  second  examination,  Chedsey 
said,  "  Roger,  I  trust  you  have  now  better  considered  of 
the  church  than  you  did  before."  He  replied,  "  I  consider 
thus  much:  that  out  of  the  church  there  is  no  salvation,  as 
divers  ancient  doctors  say."  "  That  is  well  said,"  quoth 
Bonner.  "  Mr.  Eaglestone,  I  trust  your  kinsman  will  be 
a  good  Catholic  man.  But,  Roger,  you  mean,  I  trust,  the 
church  of  Rome?"  Holland  answered,  "I  mean  that 
church  which  hath  Christ  for  its  head ;  which  also  hath  his 
word,  and  his  sacraments  according  to  his  word  and  insti- 
tutions." Chedsey  interrupted  him,  by  asking,  "  Is  that  a 
Testament  you  have  in  your  hand?"  "  Yea,  master  doctor, 
it  is  the  New  Testament.  You  will  find  no  fault  with  the 
translation,  I  think.  It  is  of  your  own  translation ;  it  is 
according  to  the  great  Bible."    Bonner  asked,  "  How  do 


ROGER    HOLLAND.  307 

you  know  it  is  the  Testament  of  Christ,  but  only  by  the 
church?  For  the  church  of  Rome  hath  and  doth  preserve 
it;  and  out  of  the  same  hath  made  decrees,  ordinances,  and 
true  expositions."  "  No,"  said  Holland,  "  the  church  of 
Rome  hath  and  doth  suppress  the  reading  of  the  Testament. 
And  what  a  true  exposition,  I  pray  you,  did  the  pope 
make  thereof,  when  he  set  his  foot  on  the  emperor's  neck, 
and  said,  '  Thou  shalt  walk  upon  the  lion  and  the  asp :  the 
young  lion  and  the  dragon  shalt  thou  tread  under  thy 
feet.'  Psalm  xci."  Then  said  the  bishop,  "  Such  unlearn- 
ed, wild-heads  as  thou  and  other  would  be  expositors  of 
the  scriptures  !  Wilt  thou,  then,  the  ancient  learned — as 
there  be  some  here  as  well  as  I — should  be  taught  of  you?" 
Holland  answered,  "Youth  delighteth  in  vanity.  My  wild- 
ness  hath  been  something  more  by  your  doctrine  than  ever 
I  learned  out  of  this  book  of  God.  But,  my  lord,  I  sup- 
pose  some  of  the  old  doctors  say,  "  If  a  poor  layman  bring 
his  reason  and  argument  out  of  the  word  of  God,  he  is  to 
be  credited  afore  the  learned,  though  they  be  never  so  great 
doctors.  For  the  gift  of  knowledge  was  taken  from  the 
learned  doctors,  and  given  to  poor  fishermen.  Notwith- 
standing I  am  ready  to  be  instructed  by  the  church." 

"  That  is  very  well  said,  Roger,"  replied  Bonner :  "  but 
you  must  understand  that  the  church  of  Rome  is  the  catho- 
lic church.  Roger,  for  thy  friends'  sake,  I  promise  thee  I 
wish  thee  well,  and  I  mean  to  do  thee  good.  Keeper,  see  he 
want  nothing.  Roger,  if  thou  lack  any  money  to  comfort 
thee,  I  will  see  thou  shall  not  want."  This  was  spoken  to 
him  apart  from  his  fellow-sufferers  to  win  him  over  if  pos- 
sible :  and  so  with  many  fair  words,  he  was  sent  back  to 
his  prison. 

The  last  examination  of  this  sensible  and  intrepid  man, 
was  on  the  occasion  of  their  being  brought  up  for  judgment. 
All  the  rest  were  excommunicated,  and  ready  to  receive 
sentence  of  death,  while  many  threatening  words  were 
used  to  strike  terror  into  them.  But  a  strong  party  of 
Holland's  kinsmen,  including  the  lord  Strange,  Sir  Thomas 
Jarret,  Mr.  Eaglestone,  and  others  of  rank  and  property, 
both  in  Cheshire,  and  Lancashire,  with  many  friends,  were 
earnest  suitors  to  spare  his  life.  Bonner,  who  showed  a 
desire  to  do  so,  by  winning  him  over  to  their  way,  made 
this  oration  :  '  Roger,  I  have  divers  time  called  thee  before, 
home  to  my  house,  and  have  conferred  with  thee ;  and  be- 
ing not  learned  in  the  Latin  tongue,  it  doth  appear  to  me 


308  ROGER    HOLLAND. 

thou  art  of  a  good  memory,  and  of  a  very  sensible  talk, 
but  something  over-hasty,  which  is  a  natural  disease  to 
some  men.  And  surely  they  are  not  the  worst-natured 
men  ;  for  I  myself  shall  now  and  then  be  hasty  ;  but  mine 
anger  is  soon  past.  So,  Roger,  surely  I  have  a  good  opin- 
ion of  you,  that  you  will  not,  with  these  loose  fellows,  cast 
yourself,  headlong  from  the  church  of  your  parents,  and 
your  friends  that  are  here;  very  good  catholics  as  it  is 
reported  unto  me.  And  as  I  mean  thee  good,  so,  Roger, 
play  the  wise  man's  part,  and  come  home  with  the  lost 
son,  and  say,  I  have  run  into  the  church  of  schismatics  and 
heretics,  from  the  catholic  church  of  Rome  ;  and  you  shall, 
I  warrant  you,  not  only  find  favour  at  God's  hands,  but  the 
church,  that  hath  authority,  shall  absolve  you,  and  put  new 
garments  upon  you,  and  kill  the  fatling  to  make  thee 
good  cheer  withal  ;  that  is,  in  so  doing,  as  meat  doth  re- 
fresh and  cherish  the  mind,  so  shalt  thou  find  as  much 
quietness  of  conscience  in  coming  home  to  the  church,  as 
did  the  hungry  son  that  had  been  fed  afore  with  the  hogs ; 
as  you  have  done  with  these  heretics  that  sever  themselves 
from  the  church.  I  give  them  a  homely  name,  but  they 
be  worse  than  hogs :"  and  therewith  he  put  his  hand  to  his 
cap  :  "  for  they  know  the  church  and  will  not  follow  it.  If 
I  should  say  thus  much  to  a  Turk,  he  would,  I  think,  be- 
lieve me.  But,  Roger,  if  1  did  not  bear  thee  and  thy  friends 
good-will,  I  would  not  have  said  so  much  as  I  have  done; 
but  I  would  have  let  mine  ordinary  alone  with  you." 
At  these  words,  the  friends  of  Holland  gave  many  thanks 
to  the  bishop  for  his  good-will,  and  the  pains  he  had 
taken  on  his  behalf  and  theirs.  He  then  went  on  :  "  Well 
Roger,  how  say  you  ?  Do  you  not  believe  that  after  the 
priest  hath  spoken  the  words  of  consecration,  there  remain- 
eth  the  body  of  Christ  really,  and  corporally,  under  the 
forms  of  bread  and  wine?  I  mean  the  self-same  body  that 
was  born  of  the  virgin  Mary,  that  was  crucified  upon  the 
cross,  and  rose  again  the  third  day." 

Holland  replied,  "  Your  lordship  saith,  the  same  body 
which  was  born  of  the  virgin  Mary,  which  was  crucified 
upon  the  cross,  which  rose  again  the  third  day:  but  you 
leave  out,  which  ascended  into  heaven;  and  the  scripture 
saith  he  shall  there  remain  until  he  come  to  judge  the  quick 
and  the  dead.  Then  he  is  not  contained  under  the  forms 
of  bread  and  wine,  by  the  words  Hoc  est  corpus  meum.'^ 
"  Roger,"  said  the  bishop,  "  I  perceive  my  pains  and  good- 


ROGER    HOIiLAND.  309 

will  will  not  prevail;  and  if  I  should  argue  with  thee,  thou 
art  so  wilful,  as  all  thy  fellows  be,  standing  in  thine  own 
singularity  and  foolish  conceit,  that  thou  wouldest  still  talk 
to  no  purpose  this  seven  years,  if  thou  mightest  be  suffered. 
Answer  whether  thou  wilt  confess  the  real  and  corporeal 
presence  of  Christ's  body  in  the  sacrament,  or  wilt  not." 
"  My  lord,"  said  the  martyr,  "  although  God,  by  his  suffer- 
ance, hath  here  placed  you,  to  set  forth  his  truth  and  glory 
in  us  his  faithful  servants,  notwithstanding,  your  meaning 
is  far  from  the  zeal  of  Christ;  and  for  all  your  words,  you 
have  the  same  zeal  that  Annas  and  Caiaphas  had,  trusting 
to  their  authority,  traditions,  and  ceremonies,  more  than  to 
the  word  of  God."  Bonner  remarked,  "  If  I  should  suffer 
him,  he  would  fall  from  reasoning  to  raving,  as  a  frantic 
heretic."  "  Roger,"  said  lord  Strange,  "  I  perceive  my  lord 
would  have  you  tell  him  whether  you  will  submit  yourself 
to  him  or  no."  "  Yea,"  added  Bonner,  "  and  confess  this 
presence  that  I  have  spoken  of." 

On  this,  Roger  Holland,  turning  towards  lord  Strange 
and  his  other  friends,  with  a  cheerful  aspect,  kneeled  down, 
and  said,  "  God,  by  the  mouth  of  his  servant  St.  Paul,  hath 
said,  '  Let  every  soul  submit  himself  unto  the  higher  pow- 
ers: and  he  that  resisteth,  receiveth  his  own  damnation  :" 
and  as  you  are  a  magistrate,  appointed  by  the  will  of  God, 
so  do  I  submit  myself  unto  you,  and  to  all  such  as  are 
appointed  for  magistrates."  "That  is  well  said," observed 
Bonner  ;  "  I  see  you  are  no  anabaptist.  How  say  you  then 
to  the  presence  of  Christ's  body  and  blood,  in  the  sacra- 
ment of^  the  altar  ?"  Holland  replied,  "  I  say,  and  beseech 
you  all  to  remark  and  bear  witness  with  me,  for  so  you 
shall  do  before  the  judgment  seat  of  God,  what  I  speak ;  for 
here  is  the  conclusion.  And  ye,  my  dear  friends,  (turning 
to  his  kinsmen)  I  pray  you  show  my  father  what  I  do  say, 
that  he  may  understand  I  am  a  Christian  man.  I  say,  and 
believe,  and  am  therein  fully  persuaded  by  the  scriptures, 
that  in  the  sacrament  of  the  supper  of  our  Lord,  minister- 
ed in  the  holy  communion  according  to  Christ's  institution, 
I  being  penitent  and  sorry  for  my  sins,  and  minding  to 
amend  and  lead  a  new  life,  and  so  coming  worthily  unto 
God's  board  in  perfect  love  and  charity,  do  there  receive 
by  faith  the  body  and  blood  of  Christ.  And  though  Christ, 
in  his  human  nature,  sit  at  the  right  hand  of  his  Father, 
yet  by  faith,  I  say,  his  death,  his  passion,  his  merits,  are 
mine;  and  by  faith  I  dwell  in  him,  and  he  in  me.     And  as 


310  ROGER    HOLLAND, 

for  the  mass,  transubstantiation,  and  the  worshipping  of  the 
sacrament,  they  are  mere  impiety,  and  horrible  idolatry." 

"  I  thought  as  much,"  exclaimed  Bonner,  not  suffering 
him  to  speak  any  longer ;  "  how  he  would  prove  a  very 
blasphemous  heretic  as  ever  I  heard.  How  unreverently 
doth  he  speak  of  the  blessed  mass  !"  And  straightway  he 
read  the  sentence  of  condemnation,  adjudging  him  to  be 
burned.  Holland  heard  it  in  silence,  patiently  and  quietly; 
and  when  about  to  be  removed,  he  said,  "  My  lord,  I  be- 
seech you  suffer  me  to  speak  two  words."  Bonner  refused, 
ordering  him  away;  but  on  the  intercession  of  one  of  his 
friends,  he  said,  "  Speak ;  what  hast  thou  to  say?"  The  mar- 
tyr, just  ready  to  be  offered,  then  uttered  these  memorable 
words:  "Even  now  I  told  you  your  authority  was  from 
God,  and  by  his  sufferance :  and  now  I  tell  you,  God  hath 
heard  the  prayer  of  his  servants,  which  hath  been  poured 
out  with  tears  for  his  afflicted  saints,  which  daily  you  per- 
secute, as  now  you  do  us.  But  this  I  dare  be  bold  in  God 
to  speak,  which  by  his  Spirit  I  am  moved  to  say,  that  God 
will  shorten  your  hand  of  cruelty,  that  for  a  time  you  shall 
not  molest  his  church.  And  this  shall  you  in  short  time 
perceive,  my  dear  brethren,  to  be  most  true;  for  after  this 
day,  in  this  place,  shall  there  not  be  any  by  him  put  to  the 
trial  of  fire  and  fagot."  Certain  it  is,  that  his  words  were 
verified;  for  after  Holland  and  his  companions,  no  more 
suffered  in  Smithtield  for  the  testimony  of  the  gospel. 

The  boasting  tyrant,  however,  believed  it  not :  he  replied, 
"  Roger,  thou  art  as  mad  in  these  thy  heresies  as  ever  was 
Joan  Boucher.  In  anger  and  fume  thou  wouldest  become 
a  railing  prophet.  Though  thou  and  all  the  sort  of  you 
would  see  me  hanged,  yet  I  shall  live  to  burn,  yea,  I  will 
burn  all  the  sort  of  you  that  come  in  my  hands,  that  will 
not  worship  the  blessed  sacrament  of  the  altar,  for  all  thy 
prattling."  And  then  the  bishop  went  out,  in  no  small  dis- 
pleasure. 

Holland  next  began  to  exhort  his  friends  to  repentance, 
and  to  think  well  of  them  that  suffered  for  the  testimony  of 
the  gospel.  Bonner  quickly  came  back,  charging  the  keep- 
er that  no  one  should  be  permitted  to  speak  to  the  prisoners 
without  his  license;  and  that  any  who  did  should  be  com- 
mitted to  prison.  Meanwhile,  Holland  and  Henry  Pond 
continued  to  address  the  people,  exhorting  them  to  stand  in 
the  truth;  and  adding,  that  God  would  shorten  those  cruel 
and  evil  days  for  his  elect's  sake. 


ROGER    HOLLAND.  311 

In  their  examination,  the  other  six  had  borne  a  most  open 
and  unflinching  witness  to  the  truth.  They  not  only  an- 
swered affirmatively  to  all  the  articles  that  set  forth  their 
utter  dissent  from  the  popish  worship  and  doctrine,  but 
strengthened  their  protest  as  much  as  possible,  by  plain 
denunciations  of  the  errors  and  idolatry,  in  testifying  against 
which  they  were  ready  to  yield  up  their  lives.  Only  Rey- 
nold Eastland  refused  to  be  sworn,  alleging  that  although 
to  end  a  strife  an  oath  is  lawful,  yet  to  begin  a  strife  it  is 
not  so.  To  this  singular  opinion  he  adhered ;  but  readily 
consented  to  suffer  whatever  should  be  adjudged  to  his  breth- 
ren. When  called  on,  at  the  last,  to  reconcile  himself 
again  to  the  "  catholic"  faith,  and  go  from  his  opinions,  he 
said  he  knew  nothing  why  he  should  recant:  and  therefore 
would  not  conform  himself.  So  sentence  was  pronounced 
on  him.  John  Holiday  being  next  called,  said  that  he  was 
no  heretic,  neither  held  any  heresy  or  any  opinion  contrary 
to  the  catholic  faith;  but  as  he  persisted  in  holding  the 
scriptural  not  the  Romish  faith  to  be  the  catholic,  he  too 
was  condemned.  The  others  were  disposed  of  in  like  man- 
ner: Roger  Holland  being  reserved  to  the  last. 

On  the  twenty-seventh  of  June  the  fire  was  prepared  for 
these  brethren:  and  such  was  the  dread  entertained  of  their 
influence  over  the  people,  that  a  proclamation  was  made 
that  day,  forbidding  any  to  be  so  bold  as  to  speak  or  talk 
any  word  unto  them,  or  to  receive  any  thing  of  them,  on 
pain  of  imprisonment  without  bail  or  mainprize,  with  other 
cruel  threatenings.  Notwithstanding,  the  people  cried  out, 
beseeching  God  to  strengthen  them;  while  the  martyrs  also 
prayed  for  them,  and  for  the  restoring  of  God's  word.  At 
last,  Roger  Holland,  embracing  the  stake  and  the  reeds, 
spoke  these  words  aloud:  "  Lord,  I  most  humbly  thank 
Ihy  majesty,  that  thou  hast  called  me  from  the  state  of 
death  unto  the  light  of  thy  heavenly  word;  and  now  unto 
the  fellowship  of  thy  saints,  that  I  may  sing,  and  say,  Holy, 
holy,  holy  Lord  God  of  hosts!  And,  Lord,  into  thy  hands 
I  commit  my  spirit.  Lord,  bless  these  thy  people,  and  save 
them  from  idolatry."  So,  looking  up  to  heaven,  praying 
to  God  and  praising  Him,  he  ended  his  life,  with  his  dear 
and  faithful  brethren. 

Oh  that  all  who  have  this  world's  good,  would  be  ready  to 
bestow  a  portion  on  the  poor  victims  of  popish  delusion,  in  the 
spirit  and  with  the  object  of  the  maid  Elizabeth,  when  she 
placed  her  thirty  pounds  in  the  hands  of  Roger  Holland ! 


312  THOMAS    HENSHAW — JOHN  WILLES. 

Six  others  of  the  company  who  were  apprehended  at 
Islington  were  cruelly  burnt  at  Brentford,  shortly  after 
their  brethren  had  been  slain  in  Smithfield.  These  were 
Robert  Willes,  Stephen  Cotton,  Robert  Dynes, 
Stephen  Wright,  John  Slade,  and  William  Pikes, 
The  articles  were  ministered  to  them  by  Bonner's  chan- 
cellor, Darbyshire,  at  various  times,  each  having  the 
same  articles  objected  against  him  separately:  but  their 
answers  were  uniform,  showing  that  one  Spirit  taught  them 
all.  They  declared,  that  as  the  rites,  customs,  and  cere- 
monies of  the  Romish  religion  were  against  the  word  of 
God,  they  would  observe  no  part  of  them  :  they  would  not 
attend  the  church,  so  long  as  idolatry  was  there  practised, 
and  a  strange  language  used:  they  declared  that  if  they 
might  receive  the  sacrament  as  they  did  in  king  Edward's 
time,  they  would  with  all  their  hearts  do  so.  On  the  final 
examination,  they  were  all  brought  up  together,  and  asked 
if  they  would  turn  from  their  opinions  to  the  holy  mother 
church:  they  all  answered  that  they  would  not  go  from  the 
truth,  nor  renounce  any  part  of  it  while  they  lived.  They 
were  sent  back  till  the  afternoon,  when  the  chancellor  sit- 
ting in  the  pomp  and  pride  of  his  office,  with  two  of  the 
queen's  household  officers  present,  passed  the  murderous 
sentence  upon  these  poor  lambs,  delivering  them  up  to  the 
appointed  slaughterers.  The  same  day  he  applied  for  a 
writ;  and  caused  the  martyrs  to  be  conveyed  to  Brentford, 
and  burned  on  the  morrow.  They  went  quietly  and  glad- 
ly to  the  place,  made  their  prayers  to  the  Lord  Jesus,  un- 
dressed themselves,  and  being  bound  to  the  stake,  with 
flames  rising  about  them,  yielded  their  souls  into  the  hands 
of  their  Saviour. 

Before  dismissing  the  story  of  these  sufferers  for  God's 
truth,  we  must  relate  what  befell  two  of  the  seven  who  es- 
caped the  flames,  out  of  these  twenty-two,  of  whom  thirteen 
were  burned.  These  were  Thomas  Henshaw,  and  John 
Willes.  The  former  was  a  youth  of  nineteen  or  twenty 
years,  apprenticed  to  a  tradesman  in  Paul's  church-yard. 
After  eight  weeks'  solitary  imprisonment  in  Newgate, 
Henshaw  was  sent  for  by  Bonner  to  be  examined  by  him, 
Harpsfield,  and  Cole.  He  was  remanded  for  three  weeks 
longer,  then  brought  up  again  before  Bonner,  who  had 
with  him  much  talk  but  to  no  purpose.  The  next  day, 
being  Sunday,  the  bishop  went  to  Fulham,  in  the  after- 
noon; and  having,  in  the  morning,  made  another  unsuc- 


THOMAS    HENSHAW.  313 

cessful  attempt  to  shake  the  youth's  constancy,  he  took 
him  there,  and  extended  to  him  the  hospitality  which  he 
was  wont  to  show  God's  people  in  that  house,  by  setting 
him  in  the  stocks  for  the  night,  with  a  pittance  of  bread 
and  water.  The  next  morning  Bonner  came  to  him,  with 
many  persuasions,  which  took  no  effect  on  his  steadfast 
mind  :  so  Harpsfield  was  sent  for,  to  try  his  hand,  who,  after 
a  long  discussion  lost  his  temper,  called  him  peevish  boy; 
asking  him  whether  he  thought  he  went  about  to  destroy 
his  soul,  and  so  forth.  Henshaw  answered,  that  he  was 
persuaded  that  they  laboured  to  maintain  their  dark  and 
devilish  kingdom  ;  and  not  from  any  love  to  truth.  This 
put  Harpsfield  into  a  mighty  rage  :  he  told  the  bishop  ;  who, 
swelling  with  passion  so  as  scarcely  to  be  able  to  speak, 
said,  "  Dost  thou  answer  my  archdeacon  so,  thou  naughty 
boy?  I  shall  handle  thee  well  enough,  be  assured."  He 
then  sent  for  a  couple  of  rods,  and  ordered  the  young  man 
to  kneel  down  against  a  long  bench,  in  an  arbour  in  his 
garden  ;  which  he  readily  doing,  the  bishop  beat  and  scour- 
ged him,  until  his  bloated  and  unwieldy  body  was  so 
wearied  with  that  right  catholic  exercise,  that  he  was  fain 
to  give  over,  before  he  had  quite  wasted  both  his  willow- 
rods. 

After  this  specimen  of  the  tenderness  with  which  the 
holy  mother  church  of  Rome  cherishes  the  lambs  whom 
she  undertakes  to  lead  back  to  her  fold,  articles  were  pre- 
pared against  Henshaw,  and  he  was  brought  to  examina- 
tion in  the  chapel  at  Fulham.  He  kept  a  clear  conscience, 
not  assenting  to  any  of  their  idolatrous  doctrines,  though  he 
refused  to  answer  to  many  of  the  artful  questions  propound- 
ed. Soon  after  he  fell  sick  of  fever  and  ague,  and  Bonner, 
who  thought  him  at  the  point  of  death,  was  prevailed  on  to 
give  him  into  the  care  of  his  master,  who  must  have  pro- 
duced him  again  on  his  recovery:  but  by  the  Lord's  mer- 
cy, he  remained  sick  until  after  the  accession  of  Elizabeth, 
and  so  escaped.  He  was  alive  when  Fox  wrote  the  story, 
and  furnished  him  with  the  facts. 

John  Willes  was  brother  to  one  of  those  burnt  at  Brent- 
ford. He  was  examined  with  Henshaw,  and  shared  his 
lodging  in  the  stocks,  during  eight  or  ten  days,  at  Fulham; 
and  often  was  he  questioned  by  Bonner,  who,  on  those 
occasions  always  held  a  stick  in  his  hand,  with  which  he 
would  rap  him  on  the  head,  and  strike  him  under  the  chin, 
and  on  the  ears,  saying  he  looked  down  like  a  thief.     One 

MABTYROLOGY.-— vol,.  II.  27 


314  WILLES YEOMAN. 

day,  after  trying  all  ways  to  make  him  revoke,  the  bishop 
asked  him  when  he  had  crept  to  the  cross  :  he  answered, 
not  since  he  came  to  years  of  discretion,  neither  would  he, 
though  he  should  be  torn  by  wild  horses.  Then  Bonner 
ordered  him  to  make  a  cross  on  his  forehead,  which  he 
refused  to  do,  and  thereupon  he  was  taken  to  the  orchard, 
placed  in  the  arbour,  and  obliged  to  strip  his  back,  while 
Bonner  scourged  him  with  a  willow  rod,  until  it  was  worn 
to  a  stump ;  then  he  called  for  one  of  birch,  and  used  it  in 
like  manner,  as  long  as  he  could  raise  his  arm.  After  this, 
Willes  was  examined  with  Henshaw  at  Fulham  chapel,  but 
little  to  the  bishop's  contentment :  for  he  sent  to  the  prison 
an  old  priest  lately  come  from  Rome,  to  conjure  the  evil 
spirit  out  of  him;  at  whom  and  his  incantations,  Willes 
only  laughed.  Bonner  took  great  pains  with  him,  talking 
a  vast  deal  of  the  most  childish  nonsense,  by  way  of  ex- 
pounding scripture,  but  all  in  vain.  One  of  his  speeches 
was  this :  "  They  call  me  bloody  Bonner:  a  vengeance  on 
you  all,  I  would  fain  be  rid  of  you,  but  you  have  a  delight  in 
burning.  If  I  might  have  my  will,  I  would  sew  your 
mouths  and  put  you  in  sacks  to  drown  you." 

At  last  Willes  was  delivered:  not  by  any  relentings  on 
Bonner's  part,  but  by  the  perseverance  of  his  wife,  who 
came  to  the  house,  and  declared  she  would  not  stir  from  it 
until  her  husband  was  given  up  to  her.  She  was  in  a 
condition  to  render  her  rather  an  inconvenient  and  awk- 
ward guest  in  the  palace:  so  for  fear  of  what  might  hap- 
pen, Bonner  was  forced  to  release  his  prisoner  from  the 
stocks,  and  let  him  go,  for  a  day,  as  he  said;  but  it  was 
managed  to  get  him  fully  delivered,  by  signing  a  paper  that 
contained  nothing  contrary  to  his  faith.  The  happy  change 
of  affairs  soon  after  placed  Bonner's  captives  in  glad  secu- 
rity; while  he,  iu)prisoned  in  the  Marshalsea,  with  liberty 
to  go  out,  but  never  daring  to  pass  its  gates  for  fear  of  the 
people's  vengeance,  lived  a  long  while  in  gluttony,  drunk- 
enness, and  every  sinful  excess,  and  died  a  confirmed  in- 
fidel. 

The  next  martyr  who  comes  under  review  is  Richard 
Yeoman,  a  devout  old  minister,  who  had  long  been  curate 
to  good  Dr.  Rowland  Taylor,  at  Hadleigh.  That  blessed 
martyr  left  his  parish  in  Yeoman's  charge:  but  the  succes- 
sor appointed  to  the  cure,  Newall,  soon  drove  away  the 
godly  teacher,  and  set  a  right  popish  curate  in  his  place, 
to  maintain  and  enforce  the  doctrine  of  his  evil  patrons, 


KICHARD    YEOMAN JOHN    DALK.  315 

which  they  thought  to  be  now  fully  established.  Expelled 
from  his  home,  the  aged  pastor  wandered  from  place  to 
place,  exhorting  all  the  brethren  whotti  he  met  to  stand 
faithfully  to  God's  word,  to  give  themselves  earnestly  unto 
prayer,  patiently  bearing  the  cross  now  laid  on  them  for 
their  trial,  and  boldly  confessing  the  truth  before  their  ad- 
versaries, and  with  undoubting  hope  waiting  for  the  crown 
and  reward  of  eternal  felicity.  When  he  perceived  the  ene- 
my was  lying  in  wait  to  seize  him,  he  procured  a  little 
basket  of  laces,  pins,  and  other  such  small  merchandize, 
with  which  he  went  into  Kent,  travelling  from  one  village 
to  another,  selling  his  humble  wares,  and  by  this  poor  shift 
getting  a  trifle  towards  the  sustenance  of  himself,  his  help- 
less wife,  and  children.  While  thus  he  passed  through 
Kent,  a  certain  justice  of  that  county  took  him,  and  kept 
him  for  a  day  and  night  in  the  stocks ;  but  having  no  evi- 
dence against  him,  was  obliged  to  let  him  go.  Yeoman 
then  returned  to  Hadleigh,  coming  privately  and  cautiously ; 
and  for  more  than  a  year  his  poor  faithful  wife  concealed 
him  in  a  chamber  of  the  town  house.  Here  the  patient  old 
man,  now  nearly  seventy  years  of  age,  remained,  spend- 
ing his  time  in  devout  prayer  and  reading  the  scriptures; 
and  in  carding  wool  which  his  wife  spun.  She  also  went 
out  to  beg  bread  and  meat  for  herself  and  the  children:  and 
by  such  poor  means  they  contrived  to  exist.  This  was  the 
lot  of  God's  saints,  while  the  prophets  of  Baal  lived  in  jollity, 
and  were  pampered  at  Jezebel's  table. 

At  length  Newall  discovered  the  retreat  of  his  victim, 
and  taking  with  him  the  bailiffs'  deputies  and  servants, 
came  in  the  night  time,  breaking  open  five  doors  to  reach 
the  place  where  Yeoman  was  in  bed  with  his  wife  and  chil- 
dren. The  persecutor  immediately  uttered  some  gross  and 
slanderous  language  against  them,  founded  on  the  wicked 
rule  of  priestly  celibacy,  and  behaved  with  savage  insult 
to  the  poor  gentlewoman;  while  her  husband,  in  the  spirit 
of  his  martyred  friend  Rowland  Taylor,  replied,  "  Nay, 
parson,  no  ill  character,  but  a  married  man  and  his  wife, 
according  unto  God's  ordinance ;  and  blessed  be  God  for 
lawful  matrimony.  I  thank  God  for  this  great  grace,  and 
I  defy  the  pope  and  all  his  popery."  He  was  then  led  to 
the  cage,  and  placed  in  the  stocks  until  day.  Here  he 
found  another  aged  sufferer,  named  John  Dale,  who  had 
been  there  three  or  four  days,  because  when  Newall  and 
his  curate  openly  performed  the  Romish  service  in  the 


316  JOHN    DALE. 

church,  he  publicly  reproved  their  blindness,  idolatry,  and 
cruelty  to  God's  martyrs.  They  were  both  brought  to- 
gether before  Sir  Henry  Doyle,  a  justice  of  the  peace,  and 
Nevvall  urged  him  to  commit  them  to  prison.  Sir  Henry 
strove  hard  to  move  the  inhuman  man  to  pity:  representing 
their  age,  their  poverty,  that  they  were  no  preachers,  nor 
men  of  great  repute :  wherefore  he  besought  him  to  be  con- 
tent to  punish  them  for  a  day  or  two,  and  then  to  let  them 
go ;  at  least  Dale,  who  was  no  priest,  and  who  had  sat  so 
long  in  the  cage  that  it  seemed  punishment  enough.  At 
this  the  vicar  went  into  a  great  rage,  calling  them  pestilent 
heretics,  unfit  to  live  in  a  commonwealth  of  Christians;  and 
finally  demanded  of  Sir  Henry  that  he  should,  according 
to  his  office,  defend  holy  church,  and  help  to  suppress  these 
sects  of  heretics  which  were  false  to  God,  and  boldly  set 
themselves,  to  the  evil  example  of  others,  against  the 
queen's  gracious  proceedings.  Sir  Henry  seeing  he  could 
do  no  good,  and  knowing  that  it  was  at  his  own  peril  if  he 
stood  between  the  Lord's  sheep  and  the  wolves  who  were 
whetting  their  teeth  to  rend  them,  was  forced  to  make  out 
a  commitment  to  Bury  gaol,  whither  the  constables  carried 
them  both.  The  justices  were,  in  fact,  though  armed  with 
the  sword  of  civil  power,  as  much  in  fear  of  every  shaven 
crown  as  Pilate  was  of  Annas  and  Caiaphas,  and  the  pha- 
risaical  generation  who  cried  out,  "  Crucify  him.  Crucify 
him.  If  thou  let  this  man  go,  thou  art  not  Csesar's  friend." 
Such  is  the  policy  of  that  unfathomable  mystery  of  iniquity, 
the  Romish  church  :  and  so  will  it  ever  be  where  that  church 
is  ascendant.  Magistrates,  and  laymen  of  every  degree, 
must  needs  be  slaves  and  vassals  to  the  popish  bishops ;  as 
was  Sir  Henry  Doyle  now  proved  to  be,  when,  sorely 
against  his  conscience,  he  permitted  the  two  innocent  vic- 
tims to  be  bound  like  thieves,  placed  on  horseback  with 
their  legs  tied  under  the  horses'  bodies,  taken  to  prison,  and 
there  heavily  ironed.  All  this  could  not  prevent  their  re- 
buking the  anti-christian  apostasy;  so  that  they  were  thrust 
into  the  lowest  dungeon,  where  Dale  soon  died,  and  was 
cast  forth,  and  put  into  a  hole  dug  in  the  fields.  He  was  a 
weaver,  well  learned  in  the  holy  scripture,  and  steadfast  in 
maintaining  the  true  doctrine  set  forth  in  king  Edward's 
time.  For  it  he  joyfully  suffered  prison  and  fetters;  and 
from  an  earthly  dungeon  departed  to  a  mansion  of  eternal 
glory,  where  Christ  is  the  light  of  his  people  for  ever- 
more. 


JOHN    ALCOCK.  317 

When  Dale  was  dead,  Mr.  Yeoman  was  removed  to  Nor- 
wich, and  very  cruelly  handled  in  that  prison.  When 
brought  to  examination,  he  steadfastly  declared  himself  to 
be  of  the  faith  and  confession  set  forth  by  the  holy  king  Ed- 
ward the  Sixth,  of  blessed  memory;  and  from  that  he  would 
nothing  vary.  Being  required  to  submit  himself  to  the 
holy  father,  the  pope,  he  replied,  "  I  defy  him,  and  all  his 
detestable  abominations:  I  will  in  no  wise  have  to  do  with 
him,  nor  any  thing  that  appertaineth  to  him."  The  chief 
articles  objected  against  him  were  his  marriage,  and  the 
mass  sacrifice:  and  as  he  continued  immovable  in  the  truth, 
he  was  condemned,  degraded,  and  not  only  burnt,  but  most 
barbarously  tormented  in  the  fire.  He  ended  his  life  of 
sorrow,  want,  and  pain,  to  enjoy  with  Lazarus,  in  the  bo- 
som of  Abraham,  the  sweet  rest  and  quietness  that  God 
hath  prepared  for  his  saints. 

Another  martyr  of  Hadleigh  was  John  Alcock.  He 
was  a  shearman,  a  young  man,  and  in  the  employ  of  a  per- 
son named  Rolfe.  He  had  been  accustomed  to  the  Eng- 
lish service  in  Hadleigh  church  :  and  when  Newall  came 
there  with  his  procession,  Alcock  stood  by,  neither  moving 
his  cap,  nor  doing  any  sort  of  reverence  to  the  idol  which 
they  carried.  Newall  seeing  this,  in  a  fit  of  devout  rage 
ran  after  him  as  he  left  the  church,  seized  him,  and  called 
for  the  constable.  Then  came  up  Rolfe,  and  asked  the 
priest  what  his  servant  had  done  to  make  him  so  angry. 
Newall  replied,  "  He  is  a  heretic  and  a  traitor,  and  despiseth 
the  queen's  proceedings.  Wherefore  I  command  you,  in 
the  queen's  name,  have  him  in  the  stocks,  and  see  he  be 
forthcoming."  "  Well,"  answered  Rolfe,  "  he  shall  be 
forthcoming.  Proceed  you  in  your  business,  and  be  quiet." 
"  But,"  the  priest  repeated,  "  have  him  in  the  stocks."  "  [ 
am  constable,"  said  Rolfe,  "  and  may  bail  him,  and  will 
bail  him  :  he  shall  not  come  in  the  stocks ;  but  he  shall  be 
forthcoming."  So  the  priest  returned  to  his  holy  proces- 
sion, and  celebrated  his  mass. 

Rolfe  said  to  his  young  man,  "  I  am  sorry  for  thee,  for 
truly  the  parson  will  seek  thy  destruction,  if  thou  take  not 
good  heed  what  thou  answerest  him."  "  Sir,"  answered 
Alcock,  "  I  am  sorry  that  it  is  my  hap  to  be  a  trouble  to 
you.  As  for  myself  I  am  not  sorry;  but  I  do  commit  my- 
self into  God's  hands,  and  I  trust  he  will  give  me  a  mouth 
and  wisdom  to  answer  according  to  right."  "  Well,"  re- 
peated Rolfe,  "  yet  beware  of  him;  for  he  is  malioious,  and' 
27* 


318  TH03IAS  BENBRIDGE. 

a  blood-sucker,  and  beareth  an  old  hatred  against  me;  and 
he  will  handle  you  the  nnore  cruelly,  because  of  displeasure 
against  me."  The  young  man  replied,  "  I  fear  him  not. 
He  shall  do  no  more  to  me  than  God  will  give  him  leave; 
and  happy  shall  I  be,  if  God  will  call  me  to  die  for  his 
truth's  sake." 

After  this  discourse,  they  went  to  the  priest,  who  at  once 
asked  him,  "  Fellow,  what  sayest  thou  to  the  sacrament  of 
the  altar?"  "  I  say,"  answered  he,  "  as  ye  use  the  matter, 
ye  make  a  shameful  idol  of  it :  and  ye  are  false,  idolatrous 
priests,  all  the  sort  of  you."  "  I  told  you  he  was  a  stout 
heretic,"  remarked  Newall.  He  committed  him  for  the 
night,  to  prison,  and  next  day,  riding  up  to  London,  took 
the  young  man  with  him,  who,  after  long  confinement  in 
Newgate,  with  repeated  examinations  and  many  troubles, 
remaining  steadfast,  was  cast  into  the  lowest  dungeon,  where 
he  died.     His  body  was  buried  in  a  dunghill. 

Thomas  Benbridge  was  a  gentleman  of  good  estate,  in 
the  diocese  of  Winchester,  where  he  had  means  to  live  as 
easy  and  luxurious  a  life  as  any:  but  the  Lord  gave  him 
grace  to  prefer  the  reproach  of  Christ  before  all  the  joys 
of  this  world,  and  to  seek  an  entrance  through  the  strait 
gate  of  persecution  into  the  heavenly  kingdom.  He  stood 
manfully  against  the  papists  for  the  defence  of  the  gospel, 
conforming  himself  to  it  in  all  things.  He  was,  of  course, 
apprehended,  as  an  enemy  to  the  Romish  religion,  and  sus- 
tained many  conflicts  with  White,  the  bishop  of  Winches- 
ter, and  his  colleagues.  He  objected  against  their  baptism, 
as  not  being  ministered  in  the  English  tongue;  denied  tran- 
substantiation;  condemned  confession  to  the  priest;  declared 
he  believed  not  the  bishops  to  be  successors  of  the  apostles, 
for  that  they  be  not  called  as  they  were,  nor  have  that 
grace;  asserted  that  not  the  pope  but  the  devil  was  supreme 
head  of  their  church;  rejected  purgatory;  and  said  that 
Martin  Luther  died  a  good  Christian  man,  whose  doctrine 
and  life  he  approved. 

He  was  condemned,  and  when  brought  to  the  place  of 
execution  cheerfully  prepared  himself  for  the  fire,  dividing 
his  clothes,  which  were  befitting  a  wealthy  gentleman, 
among  those  who  claimed  them,  and  was  made  fast  to  the 
stake.  While  he  stood  quietly  there,  his  hands  joined  toge- 
ther. Dr.  Seaton  came  and  exhorted  him  to  recant;  but  he 
answered,  "  Away,  Babylonian,  away."  A  bystander  pro- 
posed to  cut  out  his  tongue,  and  another  railed  most  vio- 


BENBRIDGE — AND    OTHERS.  319 

lently  at  him:  but  finding  no  prospect  of  prevailing,  they 
devised  to  torture  him  with  such  slow  burning,  that  it  pro- 
cured them  a  short  triumph  over  his  constancy;  for,  having 
kept  on  his  hose,  which  were  of  leather,  when  the  fire,  that 
burned  him  elsewhere  without  causing  him  to  shrink,  got 
hold  on  them,  the  agony  produced  by  that  heated  leather 
was  so  intolerable,  that  he  cried  out,"  I  recant,"  and  thrust 
the  fire  from  him;  while  a  few  of  his  friends  who  stood  by, 
at  their  own  peril  stepping  into  the  fire,  helped  him  out  of 
it.  For  this  they  were  sent  to  prison.  The  sheriff"  also, 
on  his  own  responsibility,  had  him  taken  from  the  stake, 
and  re-conducted  to  prison:  and  he  was  likewise  sent  to  the 
Fleet  for  his  humanity.  Before  Benbridge  was  removed, 
Seaton  wrote  articles  of  recantation,  and  offered  them  for 
his  signature;  but  he  objected  so  strongly  that  the  doctor 
commanded  him  to  be  again  put  into  the  fire.  He  ihen, 
very  unwillingly,  and  with  great  grief,  subscribed  the  paper, 
which  was  laid  on  a  man's  back;  and  so  had  his  gown 
given  to  him  again,  and  went  to  his  prison,  whence  he  wrote 
a  letter  to  Seaton,  revoking  what  he  had  said  at  the  stake, 
and  what  he  had  subscribed.  From  this  resolution  none 
could  move  him:  and  after  suffering  a  week's  pain  from 
the  burns  he  had  received,  he  was  once  more  taken  to  the 
fire,  where  he  endured  all  the  slow  torments  that  their  bar- 
barity could  inflict,  and  died  a  martyr. 

Next,  the  persecutors  burned  four  of  God's  servants  at 
St.  Edmund's  Bury,  by  sentence  of  Hopton,  bishop  of  Nor- 
wich. They  were  John  Cooke,  a  sawyer ;  Robert  Miles, 
a  shearman;  Alexander  Lane,  a  wheelwright;  and  a 
young  man  named  James  Ashley.  They  all  answered 
very  boldly,  clearly,  and  decidedly,  to  the  bishop  and  his 
helpers;  and  being  condemned,  suffered  together  gladly  in 
the  fire,  in  the  month  of  August,  just  before  the  Lord 
stretched  forth  his  hand  to  smite  queen  Mary  with  the  sick- 
ness that  proved  to  be  unto  death. 

There  was  one  Noone,  a  justice  in  Suffolk,  who  did  good 
service  to  the  antichristian  church,  by  hunting  out  and 
destroying  God's  people.  He  heard  of  two,  Alexander 
GoucH,  of  Woodbridge,  and  Alice  Driver,  the  wife  of  a 
man  dwelling  at  Grosborough,  near  which  he  resided;  and 
learning  that  they  were  then  both  in  the  neighbourhood,  he 
commenced  a  careful  search  for  them.  The  poor  people 
went  into  a  heap  of  hay  to  hide  themselves;  but  by  piercing 
it  with  pitchforks,  the  adversaries  discovered  and  took  them 


320  ALICE    DRIVER. 

to  Molton  gaol;  and  thence  to  the  assizes  at  Bury,  where 
they  stood  most  boldly  to  the  confession  of  Christ  crucified, 
rejecting  the  pope  and  all  his  pernicious  doings.  Alice 
Driver  was  particularly  earnest:  and  for  likening  queen 
Mary  in  her  persecutions  to  Jezebel,  who  slew  the  prophets 
of  the  Lord,  the  presiding  judge  ordered  her  ears  to  be  cut 
off,  which  was  done;  she  cheerfully  submitting  to  it.  After 
this  they  were  taken  back  to  Molton;  and  last  to  Ipswich 
for  examination  before  Spenser,  then  chancellor  of  Nor- 
wich, Like  Woodman,  Alice  Driver  certainly  used  great 
plainness  of  speech,  putting  her  thoughts  into  language  as 
unceremonious  as  it  was  true.  She  entered  the  presence 
of  her  judges  with  a  smiling  countenance;  on  which  the 
chancellor  exclaimed,  "  Why,  woman,  dost  thou  laugh  us 
to  scorn?"  She  answered,  "Whether  I  do  or  no,  I  might 
well  enough,  to  see  what  fools  ye  be."  He  then  demanded 
why  she  was  brought  before  him,  and  for  what  she  had 
been  laid  in  prison;  she  said  he  knew  better  than  she;  but 
he  declared  he  did  not ;  on  which  she  observed,  "  Then 
have  ye  done  me  much  wrong,  thus  to  imprison  me,  and 
know  no  cause  why:"  adding  a  declaration  of  her  innocence. 
Spenser  then  asked  her,  "  Woman,  woman,  what  sayest 
thou  to  the  blessed  sacrament  of  the  altar  ?  Dost  thou  not 
believe  that  it  is  very  flesh  and  blood,  after  the  words  be 
spoken  of  consecration  ?"  To  this  she  gave  no  reply:  so  a 
great  priest  standing  by,  asked  her  why  she  answered  not 
the  chancellor?  She  turned  short  upon  him,  telling  him 
she  came  not  to  talk  with  him,  but  with  his  master.  The 
chancellor  then  ordered  her  to  speak,  and  she  said,  "  Sir, 
pardon  me  though  I  make  no  answer,  for  I  cannot  tell  what 
you  mean  thereby:  for  in  all  my  life  I  never  heard  or  read 
of  any  such  sacrament  in  all  the  scripture."  "  Why,  what 
scriptures  have  you  read,  I  pray  you  ?"  said  Spenser.  "  1 
have,  I  thank  God,  read  God's  book,"  she  replied.  "  Why, 
what  manner  of  book  is  that  you  call  God's  book  ?"  "  It 
is  the  Old  and  New  Testament:  what  call  you  it?"  "That 
is  God's  book  indeed,  I  cannot  deny,"  said  the  chancellor. 
Alice  went  on:  the  same  book  I  have  read  throughout, 
but  you  never  could  find  any  such  sacrament  there :  and 
for  that  cause  I  cannot  make  you  answer  to  that  thing  I 
know  not.  Notwithstanding,  for  all  that,  I  will  grant  you 
a  sacrament,  called  the  Lord's  supper:  and  therefore  see- 
ing I  have  granted  you  a  sacrament,  I  pray  you  show  me 
what  a  sacrament  is."     Spenser  replied,  "  It  is  a  sign  :" 


ALICE    DRIVER.  321 

and  one  Dr.  Gascoigne  standing  by,  confirmed  it,  saying 
that  it  was  the  sign  of  a  holy  thing.  "  You  have  said  the 
truth,  sir,"  said  Alice,  "  it  is  a  sign  indeed,  I  must  needs 
grant  it :  and  therefore,  seeing  it  is  a  sign,  it  cannot  be  the 
thing  signified  also.  Thus  far  we  do  agree;  for  I  have 
granted  your  own  saying."  Gascoigne  then  made  a  long 
speech,  setting  forth  his  offensive  doctrine;  and  in  conclu- 
sion asked  her  if  she  did  not  believe  the  omnipolency  of 
God,  and  that  he  was  almighty,  and  able  to  perform  that 
he  spake.  She  answered  that  she  believed  he  was  able  to 
perlbrm  all  that  he  spake  and  promised.  He  then  urged 
the  usual  argument,  that  Christ  saying,  "This  is  my  body," 
was  able  to  make  the  bread  what  he  declared  it  to  be :  but 
she  denied  that  he  had  ever  said  he  would  do  so.  She  asked, 
"  Was  it  not  bread  that  he  gave  unto  them  ?"  "  No,  it  was 
his  body."  "  Then  was  it  his  body  they  did  eat  overnight" 
said  she.  "  Yea,  it  was  his  body,"  answered  the  doctor. 
"  What  body  was  it  then  that  was  crucified  the  next  day?" 
demanded  Alice.  "  It  was  Christ's  body,"  replied  the  doc- 
tor. "  How  could  that  be,"  said  she,  "  when  the  disciples 
had  eaten  him  overnight?  except  he  had  two  bodies,  as  by 
your  argument  he  had  :  one  they  did  eat  overnight,  and  the 
other  was  crucified  the  next  day!  Such  a  doctor,  such  a 
doctrine!  Be  you  not  ashamed  to  teach  the  people  that 
Christ  had  two  bodies?"  She  then  quoted  St.  Luke  and 
St.  Paul;  adding,  "  I  marvel  you  blush  not,  before  all  this 
people  to  lie  so  manifestly  as  ye  do."  The  doctor  had  not 
another  word  to  say:  and  the  chancellor  lifting  his  head 
from  his  cushion,  commanded  the  gaoler  to  take  her  away. 
*'  Now,"  said  Alice,  "  that  ye  be  not  able  to  resist  the  truth, 
ye  command  me  to  prison  again!  Well ;  the  Lord  in  the 
end  shall  judge  our  cause,  and  to  him  I  leave  it.  I  wis,  I 
wis,  this  gear  will  go  for  no  payment  then." 

On  the  following  day  she  was  taken  before  them  again, 
when  the  chancellor  asked  her  what  she  said  to  the  blessed 
sacrament  of  the  altar.  She  replied,  "  I  will  say  nothing 
to  it ;  for  you  will  neither  believe  me  nor  yourselves.  For 
yesterday,  I  asked  you  what  a  sacrament  was,  and  you 
said  it  was  a  sign,  and  I  agreed  thereto,  and  said  it  was  the 
truth,  confirming  it  by  the  scriptures ;  so  that  I  went  not 
from  your  own  words.  And  now  ye  come  and  ask  me 
again  of  such  a  sacrament  as  I  told  you  I  never  read  of  in 
the  scriptures."  To  this  the  chancellor  replied,  "  Thou 
liest,  naughty  woman  ;  we  did  not  say  that  it  was  a  sign." 


322  ALEXANDER    GOUCH. 

"  Why,  masters,"  she  exclaimed,  "  be  ye  not  the  men  that 
you  were  yesterday?  Will  ye  eat  your  own  words?  Are 
you  not  ashamed  to  lie  before  all  this  multitude  here  pre- 
sent, who  heard  you  speak  the  same?"  Then  Dr.  Gas- 
coigne  stood  up,  and  said  she  was  deceived,  for  there  were 
three  churches,  the  malignant  church,  the  church  militant, 
and  the  church  triumphant :  but  when  he  tried  to  make 
something  out  of  this  text,  he  was  bewildered  and  could  not 
get  on.  Alice  asked  him  to  show  her  a  place  in  the  scrip- 
tures, where  these  churches  were  mentioned  ;  which  he  un- 
dertook to  do,  but  of  course  failed.  He  pretended  to  search 
about  him  for  a  New  Testament,  but  not  producing  any, 
Alice  asked  him,  "  Have  ye  none  here,  sir?"  He  said, 
"  No ;"  and  she  proceeded,  "  I  thought  so  much  indeed, 
that  ye  were  little  acquainted  withal.  Surely  ye  be  a  good 
doctor :  you  say  you  sit  here  to  give  judgment  according 
to  the  law;  and  how  can  you  give  judgment,  and  have  not 
the  book  of  the  law  with  you  ?"  Gascoigne,  who  seemed 
greatly  out  of  countenance,  asked  her  if  she  had  one;  she 
answered.  No.  "  Then,"  said  he,  "  I  am  as  good  a  doctor  as 
you."  She  replied,  "  Well,  sir,  I  had  one,  but  you  took  it 
from  me,  as  you  would  take  me  from  Christ  if  you  could, 
and  since  would  not  suffer  me  to  have  any  book  at  all,  so 
burning  is  your  charity.  But  you  may  well  know,  I  thank 
God,  that  I  have  exercised  the  same ;  else  could  I  not  have 
answered  you,  to  God's  glory  be  it  spoken,  as  I  have." 
The  doctors  looked  one  to  another,  but  no  one  attempted 
to  say  a  word.  The  martyr  waited  a  while,  then  resumed: 
"  Have  you  no  more  to  say?  God  be  honoured,  you  be  not 
able  to  resist  the  Spirit  of  God  in  me,  a  poor  woman.  I  was 
an  honest  poor  man's  daughter,  never  brought  up  in  the 
university  as  you  have  been ;  but  I  have  driven  the  plough 
before  my  father  many  a  time,  I  thank  God.  Yet,  not- 
withstanding, in  the  defence  of  God's  truth,  and  in  the 
cause  of  my  Master,  Christ,  by  his  grace  I  will  set  my  foot 
against  the  foot  of  any  of  you  all,  in  the  maintenance  and 
defence  of  the  same :  and  if  I  had  a  thousand  lives,  they 
should  go  for  payment  thereof."  So  the  wretched  chan- 
cellor, unable  to  answer  this  fearless  champion  of  God's 
verity,  rose,  read  in  Latin  the  sentence  condemning  her  to  the 
flames,  and  committed  her  to  the  secular  power.  Alice  then 
returned  to  her  prison,  praising  and  glorifying  the  name  of 
God,  as  joyful  as  the  bird  of  day. 

Alexander  Gouch  was  chiefly  examined  on  the  sacra- 


VARIOUS    MARTYRS.  323 

ments  and  ceremonies  of  their  church;  and  for  rejecting 
these,  with  the  pope's  supremacy,  he  was  condemned  also. 
On  the  fourth  of  JNfovember,  the  month  of  England's  happy- 
deliverance  from  queen  Mary,  these  two  were  brought  to 
the  stake  at  Ipswich,  and  their  martyrdom  was  marked  by 
the  foulest  act  of  impious  tyranny  that  liad  been  perpe- 
trated: for  the  sheriff,  one  Sir  Henry  Dowell,  would  not 
allow  them  to  pray.  They  had  come  six  miles  that  morn- 
ing, singing  all  the  vvay,  to  their  death;  and  when  they 
kneeled  down  on  a  broom  fagot,  to  commend  themselves 
to  God,  this  monster  commanded  the  bailiff"  to  stop  them, 
and  to  nail  them  instantly  to  the  stake.  Still  they  prayed  : 
and  the  sheriff  sent  one  of  his  men  to  them,  with  an  order 
to  leave  off.  Gouch  stood  up,  and  said,  "  I  pray  you,  mas- 
ter sheriff,  let  us  pray  a  while,  for  we  have  but  a  little  time 
to  live  here."  But  he  cried,  "  Come  ofl';  have  them  to  the 
fire."  They  both  said,  "  Why,  master  sheriff,  and  master 
bailiff,  will  you  not  suffer  us  to  pray?"  "  Away!"  repeated 
Sir  Henry;  "  to  the  stake  with  them."  Gouch  said,  "  Take 
heed,  master  sheriff;  if  you  forbid  prayer,  the  vengeance 
of  God  hangeth  over  your  heads."  They  were  immediately 
fastened  to  the  stake  ;  and  when  the  chain  was  passed  round 
Alice  Driver's  neck,  "Oh,"  said  she,  "  here  is  a  goodly 
neckerchief;  blessed  be  God  for  it!" 

All  being  ready,  several  persons  came  and  took  them  by 
the  hand,  as  they  stood  at  the  stake;  whom  the  sherifT  no 
sooner  saw,  than  he  called  out,  "  Lay  hands  on  them — lay 
hands  on  them!"  On  hearing  this,  so  great  a  number  of 
people  ran  to  the  stake,  that  he  thought  it  more  prudent 
not  to  molest  them, -so  none  were  taken.  The  Lord's  arm 
was  already  uplifted  to  smite  the  destroyer  of  his  people ; 
and  surely  such  a  scene  as  this  did  not  retard  the  blow.  It 
was  observed,  that  a  fellow  named  Bate,  a  barber  in  Ips- 
wich, was  particularly  bitter  and  violent  against  those  mar- 
tyrs ;  and,  having  on  him  a  frieze  gown  at  the  time,  he 
presently  sold  it,  saying  it  stank  of  heretics.  Very  shortly 
after,  he  died  miserably;  and  the  people  failed  not  to  trace 
a  just  judgment  in  the  event. 

At  Bury,  a  few  days  after  this,  were  burned  for  God's 
word,  Philip  Humfrey,  John  David,  and  Henry  Da- 
vid ;  the  two  last  being  brothers.  At  the  time  of  their 
condemnation,  the  queen  was  given  over;  yet  did  the  blood- 
thirsty persecutor,  Higham,  sue  out  a  writ,  and  make  all 
haste  to  dispatch  them,  while  yet  the  power  to  murder  God's 
saints  remained  in  the  bauds  of  their  enemies. 


324  PREST. 

Another  victim,  the  exact  date  of  whose  suffering  is  not 
precisely  known,  gave  striking  evidence  of  the  power  of 
divine  grace,  working  in  one  of  the  weakest  of  God's  crea- 
tures. Her  name  was  Prest;  she  dwelt  near  Launcesion, 
and  was  the  wife  of  a  man  in  humble  life.  Her  husband 
and  children  were  greatly  addicted  to  popery,  who  often 
rebuked  and  grieved  her,  because  her  mind  was  greatly 
alienated  from  the  evil  way  in  which  they  delighted.  They 
drove  her  to  mass,  to  confession,  and  to  return  thanks  for 
the  re-establishment  of  antichrist's  kingdom  in  the  land  ; 
and  when,  after  long  trouble  for  conscience'  sake,  she  made 
her  earnest  prayer  to  God  for  help  and  direction,  she  was 
led  to  resolve  on  forsaking  all,  and  committing  herself  to 
the  world,  rather  than  thus  to  dishonour  the  Lord  by  join- 
ing in  their  idolatrous  doings.  Accordingly  she  departed, 
taking  nothing  with  her,  and  by  labour  and  spinning  earned 
enough  to  support  herself,  still  openly  declaring  her  mind, 
wherever  she  could.  After  a  time,  however,  some  officious 
persons  brought  her  home  to  her  husband,  where  the  neigh- 
bours soon  accused  of  her  heresy,  and  had  her  taken  be- 
fore the  bishop  of  Exeter,  who  said,  "  Thou  foolish  woman, 
I  hear  say  that  thou  hast  spoken  certain  words  against  the 
most  blessed  sacrament  of  the  altar,  the  body  of  Christ. 
Fie  for  shame:  thou  art  an  unlearned  person,  and  a  wo- 
man, and  wilt  thou  meddle  with  such  high  matters,  which 
all  the  doctors  in  the  world  cannot  define?  Wilt  thou  talk 
of  so  high  mysteries  1  Keep  thy  work,  and  meddle  with  that 
thou  hast  to  do.  It  is  no  woman's  matter,  at  cards  and 
low  to  be  spoken  of.  And  if  it  be  as  I  am  informed,  thou 
art  worthy  to  be  burned."  She  replied,  that  she  was  a  poor 
woman,  earning  a  penny  truly,  and  giving  part  of  what  she 
got  to  the  poor:  and  on  his  asking  whether  she  had  not  a 
husband,  she  said,  she  had  a  husband  and  children,  and 
had  them  not.  So  long  as  she  was  at  liberty,  she  refused 
neither  husband  nor  children;  "but  now  standing  here  as 
I  do,"  said  she,  "  in  the  cause  of  Christ  and  his  truth, 
where  I  must  either  forsake  Christ  or  my  husband,  I  am 
contented  to  stick  only  to  Christ,  my  heavenly  Spouse,  and 
renounce  the  other."  Here  she  quoted  the  words  of  our 
Lord,  "  He  that  leaveth  not  father  or  mother,"  &c. :  but  the 
bishop  interrupted  her,  saying  that  Christ  spake  it  of  the  holy 
martyrs,  which  died  because  they  would  not  do  sacrifice  to 
the  false  gods.  "  Surely,  sir,"  she  answered,  "  and  I  will 
rather  die  than  I  will  do  any  worship  to  that  foul  idol  which 
with  your  mass  you  make  a  god."     The  bishop,  in  a  rage, 


PREST.  325 

asked  if  she  would  so  call  the  sacrament  of  the  altar ;  she 
replied,  "  Yea,  truly,  there  never  was  such  an  idol  as  your 
sacrament  is  made  of  your  priests,  and  commanded  to  be 
worshipped  of  all  men,  with  many  fond  fantasies,  when 
Christ  did  command  it  to  be  eaten  and  drunken  in  remem- 
brance of  his  most  blessed  passion  for  our  redemption." 
After  some  scolding  from  the  bishop,  she  asked  his  leave 
to  give  a  reason  for  refusing  to  worship  the  sacrament ;  and 
he  replied,  "  Marry,  say  on ;  I  am  sure  it  will  be  goodly 
gear."  "  Truly,  such  gear  as  I  will  lose  this  poor  life  of 
mine  for,"  said  she.  "  Then  you  will  be  a  martyr,  good 
wife?"  "  Indeed,  if  the  denying  to  worship  that  bready 
god  be  my  martyrdom,  I  will  suffer  it  with  all  my  heart." 
The  bishop  desired  her  to  say  her  mind,  and  after  re- 
questing him  to  bear  with  her,  as  a  poor  woman,  she  thus 
spoke.  "  I  will  demand  of  you,  whether  you  can  deny 
your  creed,  which  doth  say  that  Christ  perpetually  doth  sit 
at  the  right  hand  of  his  Father,  both  body  and  soul,  until 
he  come  again,  or  whether  he  be  there  in  heaven,  our  Ad- 
vocate, and  do  make  prayer  for  us  unto  God,  his  Father? 
If  it  be  so,  he  is  not  here  on  the  earth  in  a  piece  of  bread. 
If  he  be  not  here,  and  if  he  do  not  dwell  in  temples  made 
with  hands,  but  in  heaven,  what,  shall  we  seek  him  here? 
If  he  did  offer  his  body,  once  for  all,  why  make  you  a  new 
offering?  If  with  once  offering  he  made  all  perfect,  why 
do  you,  with  a  false  offering,  make  all  unperfect?  If  he  be 
to  be  worshipped  in  spirit  and  in  truth,  why  do  you  worship 
a  piece  of  bread?  If^  he  be  eaten  and  drunken  in  faith  and 
truth,  if  his  flesh  be  not  profitable  to  be  among  us,  why  do 
you  say  you  make  his  body  and  flesh,  and  say  it  is  profit- 
able for  body  and  soul?  Alas,  I  am  a  poor  woman;  but 
rather  than  I  would  do  as  you  do,  I  would  live  no  longer, 
I  have  said,  sir."  The  only  answer  the  bishop  could  give, 
was,  "I  promise  you,  you  are  a  jolly  protestant.  I  pray 
you  in  what  schools  have  you  been  brought  up?"  She  re- 
plied, "  I  have  upon  the  Sundays  visited  the  sermons,  and 
there  have  I  learned  such  things  as  are  so  fixed  in  my 
breast,  that  death  itself  shall  not  separate  them."  "  O  fool- 
ish woman !"  said  the  bishop,  "  who  will  waste  his  breath 
upon  thee,  or  such  as  thou  art?  But  how  chanceth  it  that  thou 
went  away  from  thy  husband?  If  thou  wert  an  honest  wo- 
man, thou  wouldst  not  have  left  thy  husband  and  children, 
and  run  about  the  country  as  a  fugitive."  "  Sir,"  she  replied, 
"  I  laboured  for  my  living;  and  as  my  Master,  Christ, 

MARTYROLOGY. VOL.  II.  28 


326  PREST, 

counselleth  me,  when  I  was  persecuted  in  one  city,  I  fled 
into  another."  "  Who  persecuted  thee?"  "  My  husband 
and  my  children.  For  when  I  would  have  them  to  leave 
idolatry,  and  to  worship  God  in  heaven,  he  would  not  hear 
me,  but  he  with  his  children  rebuked  me,  and  troubled  me. 
I  fled  not  for  unchastity,  nor  for  theft,  but  because  I  would  be 
no  partaker  of  that  foul  idol,  the  mass.  And  wheresoever 
I  was,  as  oft  as  I  could,  upon  Sundays  and  holidays,  I  made 
excuses  not  to  go  to  the  popish  church."  "  Belike  then," 
said  the  bishop,  "  thou  art  a  good  housewife,  to  flee  from 
your  husband,  and  also  from  the  church."  "  My  house- 
wifry  is  but  small,"  said  the  simple,  faithful  creature,  "  but 
God  give  me  grace  to  go  to  the  true  church !"  "  The  true 
church?"  repeated  the  bishop:  "what  dost  thou  mean?" 
"  Not  your  popish  church,  full  of  idols  and  abominations ; 
but  where  two  or  three  are  gathered  together  in  the  name 
of  God,  to  that  church  will  I  go,  as  long  as  I  live."  "  Be- 
like then  you  have  a  church  of  your  own,"  observed  the 
bishop :  "  well  let  this  mad  woman  be  put  down  to  prison, 
until  we  send  for  her  husband."  "  No,"  she  replied,  "  I 
have  but  one  Husband,  which  is  here  already  in  this  city, 
and  in  prison  with  me ;  from  whom  I  will  never  depart." 
Blackstone,  the  chancellor,  with  others,  laboured  to  per- 
suade the  bishop  that  the  poor  creature  was  crazed :  which 
was  no  strange  thing,  seeing  how  the  wisdom  of  God  ap- 
pears foolishness  to  the  carnal  mind.  They  agreed  among 
themselves  to  let  her  have  some  liberty ;  and  directed  the 
keeper  of  the  bishop's  prison  to  give  her  employment  in  his 
house,  as  a  servant;  which  she  cheerfully  performed,  hav- 
ing leave  to  go  out  into  the  city  when  she  would,  and  find- 
ing many  who  delighted  to  talk  with  her.  However,  her 
bold  speaking  against  the  mass-worship  annoyed  the  govern- 
ing party  greatly:  they  sent  for  her  husband  to  take  her 
home,  but  she  refused  to  go  with  him,  lest  it  should  blem- 
ish the  cause  wherein  she  stood.  Then  a  good  party  of 
priests  took  it  in  hand  to  persuade  her  from  her  wicked 
opinions,  but  with  as  little  success.  She  told  them  their 
sacrament  was  nothing  but  very  bread  and  wine;  and  that 
they  might  be  ashamed  to  say  that  a  piece  of  bread  should 
be  turned  by  a  man  into  the  natural  body  of  Christ;  which 
bread  doth  corrupt,  and  mice  oftentimes  do  eat  it,  and  it 
doth  mould,  and  is  burned.  "And,"  said  she,  "  God's  own 
body  will  not  be  so  handled,  nor  kept  in  prison,  or  boxes, 
or  such  like.  Let  it  be  your  god,  it  shall  not  be  mine;  foi 
my  Saviour  sitteth  on  the  right  hand  of  God,  and  doth  pray 


PREST.  327 

for  me.  And  to  make  that  sacramental  or  significative 
bread,  instituted  for  a  remembrance,  the  very  body  of 
Christ,  and  to  worship  it,  is  very  foolishness  and  devilish  de- 
ceit." They  remarked.  The  devil  had  deceived  her.  "  No," 
said  she,  "  I  trust  the  living  God  hath  opened  mine  eyes, 
and  caused  me  to  understand  the  right  use  of  the  blessed 
sacrament,  which  the  true  church  doth  use,  but  the  false 
church  doth  abuse."  Then  stepped  forth  an  old  friar,  and 
asked  her  what  she  said  of  the  holy  pope?  She  answered, 
"  I  say  that  he  is  antichrist,  and  the  devil :"  whereat  they  all 
laughed.  "Nay,"  continued  she,  "you  have  more  need 
to  weep  than  to  laugh,  and  to  be  sorry  that  ever  you 
were  born  to  be  chaplains  of  that  harlot  of  Babylon :  I  defy 
him  and  all  his  falsehood.  And  get  you  away  from  me: 
you  do  but  trouble  my  conscience.  You  would  have  me 
follow  your  doings;  I  will  first  lose  my  life.  I  pray  you 
depart." 

"  Why,  thou  foolish  woman,"  said  they,  "  we  come  to 
thee  for  thy  profit  and  soul's  health."  She  asked  what 
profit  could  arise  by  them  who  taught  nothing  but  lies  for 
truth:  or  how  could  they  save  souls,  who  preached  nothing 
but  lies  dangerous  to  destroy  souls.  "  You  teach  them," 
she  said,  "  to  worship  idols,  stocks  and  stones,  the  works  of 
men's  hands;  and  to  worship  a  false  god  of  your  own 
making  out  of  a  piece  of  bread;  and  teach  that  the  pope  is 
God's  vicar,  and  hath  power  to  forgive  sins;  and  that  there  is 
a  purgatory,  whereas  God's  Son  hath  by  his  death,  purged 
all.  You  say  you  make  God  and  sacrifice  him,  when 
Christ's  body  was  a  sacrifice  once  for  all.  Do  you  not 
teach  the  people  to  number  their  sins  in  your  ears,  and  say 
they  be  damned  if  they  confess  not  all:  when  God's  word 
saith,  'Who  can  number  his  sins?'  Do  you  not  promise 
them  trentals,  and  dirges,  and  masses  for  souls,  and  sell 
your  prayers  for  money,  and  make  them  buy  pardons,  and 
trust  to  such  foolish  inventions  of  your  own  imaginations? 
Do  you  not  altogether  against  God?  Do  ye  not  teach  us 
to  pray  upon  beads,  and  to  pray  unto  saints,  and  say  they 
can  pray  for  us?  Do  you  not  make  holy  bread,  and  holy 
water  to  frighten  devils?  Do  you  not  a  thousand  more 
abominations?  And  yet  you  say  you  come  for  my  profit, 
and  to  save  my  soul.  No,  no;  One  hath  saved  me.  Fare- 
well you  with  your  salvation."  And  no  better  encourage- 
ment could  they  get  from  her. 

One  day,  using  her  liberty,  this  extraordinary  woman, 
who  never  put  the  smallest  restraint  on  her  tongue  when 


328  PREST. 

popery  came  in  her  way,  walked  into  St.  Peter's  church, 
in  Exeter,  and  there  found  a  Dutch  sculptor  busily  engaged 
in  fitting  new  noses  upon  some  of  the  graven  images  that 
had  been  disfigured  in  king  Edward's  days.  She  accosted 
him  with,  "  What  a  madman  art  thou,  to  make  them  new 
noses,  which  within  a  few  days  shall  all  lose  their  heads  !" 
The  Dutchman  accused  her  for  this;  besides  reviling  her. 
But  she  had  scripture  for  retorting  upon  his  false  church 
the  disgraceful  name  that  he  applied  to  her.  However, 
from  this  time,  she  was  laid  fast  in  prison,  and  allowed  no 
more  indulgence.  Many  came  to  see  her  during  her  im- 
prisonment; and  all  received  instruction.  To  one,  who  had 
been  a  faithful  preacher  in  Edward's  days,  but  recanted 
through  fear,  she  addressed  strong  and  affectionate  exhor- 
tations to  be  more  bold  in  Christ's  cause.  Among  others, 
came  a  wealthy  and  accomplished  gentlewoman,  who  was 
disposed  towards  the  truth :  to  her,  Prest  recited  the  creed ; 
and  on  coming  to  the  words,  "  he  ascended  into  heaven," 
she  there  paused,  and  bade  the  lady  seek  his  body  in  hea- 
ven, not  upon  earth;  telling  her  plainly  that  God  dwelleth 
not  in  temples  made  with  hands;  and  that  the  sacrament 
was  for  nothing  else  but  to  be  a  remembrance  of  his  bless- 
ed passion  :  whereas,  as  they  used  it,  it  was  but  an  idol, 
and  far  wide  from  any  remembrance  of  Christ's  body; 
"  which,"  said  she,  "  will  not  long  continue:  and  so,  take 
it,  good  mistress."  The  lady  on  returning  to  her  husband 
said  that  in  her  life  she  never  heard  a  woman,  of  such  sim- 
plicity to  behold,  talk  so  godly,  so  perfectly,  so  sincerely, 
and  so  earnestly.  Adding,  "  Insomuch,  if  God  were  not 
with  her,  she  could  not  speak  such  things,  to  the  which  I 
am  not  able  to  answer  her,  who  can  read,  and  she  cannot." 
The  like  testimony  was  borne  by  all  who  resorted  to  her. 
While  the  adversaries  assailed  her  character  and  afflicted 
her  body,  always  asserting  that  she  was  out  of  her  wits, 
the  Lord  mightily  strengthened  and  aided  her,  giving  proof 
to  many  of  her  great  wisdom  in  spiritual  things,  and  per- 
fect knowledge  of  scripture,  though  in  what  pertained  to  the 
present  life  she  was  simple  as  a  child.  At  last,  tired  of 
fruitless  attempts  to  move  her  constancy,  they  brought 
against  her  the  new  charge  of  being  an  anabaptist,  and  had 
her  again  before  the  bishop  upon  it.  She  was  sent  from 
one  prison  to  another;  and  some  gentlemen  of  the  place 
urged  her  to  make  a  submission,  and  go  home  to  her  family, 
telling  her  she  was  an  unlearned  woman,  and  unable  to 
answer  in  such  high  matters.     She  admitted  this,  saying, 


THE    LAST    MARTYRS.  329 

"  Yet  with  my  death  I  am  content  to  be  a  witness  of  Christ's 
death:  and  I  pray  you  make  no  longer  delay  with  me;  my 
heart  is  fixed  ;  I  will  never  otherwise  say,  nor  turn  to  their 
superstitious  doings."  Then  the  bishop  observed,  the  devil 
did  lead  her.  "  No,  my  lord,"  said  she,  "  it  is  the  Spirit 
of  God  which  leadeth  me."  There  was  one  vile  fellow, 
Blaxton,  treasurer  of  the  church,  who  used,  when  in  com- 
pany with  a  disgraceful  female  associate,  to  send  for  the 
martyr  to  his  house,  and  make  great  sport  of  her  earnest 
replies  and  admonitions,  while  he  mocked  at  and  reviled 
the  truth.  For  a  long  time  this  continued:  at  last  they  all 
became  anxious  to  get  rid  of  her,  so  passed  the  judgment, 
and  delivered  her  to  the  temporal  officers.  When  she  had 
heard  the  whole  sentence  read,  which  detailed  the  manner 
of  her  approaching  death,  the  poor  happy  Christian  lifted 
up  her  voice  and  praised  God,  saying,  "  I  thank  thee,  my 
Lord,  my  God  ;  this  day  have  I  found  what  I  have  long 
sought."  Great  mockings  and  outcries  then  assailed  her, 
which  she  patiently  bore;  and  again  they  pretended,  that 
if  she  would  recant,  her  life  should  still  be  spared.  She 
answered,  "  No,  that  will  I  not:  God  forbid  that  I  should 
lose  the  life  eternal  for  this  carnal  and  short  life.  1  will 
never  turn  from  my  Heavenly  Husband  to  my  earthly  hus- 
band: from  the  fellowship  of  angels  to  mortal  children: 
and  if  my  husband  and  children  be  faithful,  then  am  I 
theirs.  God  is  my  father;  God  is  my  mother;  God  is  my 
sister,  my  brother,  my  kinsman ;  God  is  my  friend  most 
faithful." 

She  was  then  delivered  to  the  sheriff,  and  in  the  sight  of 
innumerable  people  was  led  to  execution,  without  the  walls 
of  Exeter.  Again  the  priests  assaulted  her,  but  she  desired 
them  to  have  no  more  talk  with  her,  and  went  on  praying, 
"  God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner :  God  be  merciful  to  me 
a  sinner !"  Her  cheerful  countenance  and  lively  manner 
showed  her  as  one  prepared  to  attend  the  marriage-supper 
of  the  Lamb:  and  to  Him  she  went,  having  long  had  sharp 
trial  of  bitter  mockings,  and  then  of  burning  flames:  but 
the  Refiner  sat  by,  to  watch  his  precious  metal,  and  secured 
it  for  himself. 

Canterbury  was  chosen  to  be  the  scene  of  the  last  cruel 
murder  perpetrated  openly  in  these  realms  by  judicial  au- 
thority, on  Christ's  people,  for  His  name's  sake.  Five 
Christians  were  burned  at  that  place,  within  six  days  before 
England's  happy  deliverance  of  queen  Mary.  These  were 
28* 


330  THE    LAST    MARTYRS. 

John  Corneford,  ofWortham;  John  Hurst,  of  Ashford ; 
Christopher  Brown,  of  Maidstone ;  Alice  Snoth  ;  and 
an  aged  woman,  named  Katiierine  Tinley.  They  crown- 
ed the  mighty  pile  of  slaughtered  saints  that  had  been  accu- 
mulating, from  the  martyrdom  of  blessed  John  Rogers,  on 
the  fourth  of  February,  1555,  to  this  tenth  of  November, 
1558. 

It  is  said  that  Harpsfield,  knowing  the  hopeless  state  of 
the  Queen,  made  all  possible  haste  from  London  to  Can- 
terbury, to  dispatch  these  victims,  lest  by  deferring  their 
fate  for  a  little  while  he  should  lose  the  opportunity  of  add- 
ing yet  this  butchery  to  the  long  and  fearful  list  recorded 
against  his  soul.  His  character  renders  it  but  too  probable: 
howsoever  it  may  be,  he  has  long  since  gone  to  his  terrible 
account.  The  five  martyrs  above  named  were  chiefly  con- 
demned for  denying  transubstantiation,  maintaining  that  an 
evil  man  does  not  receive  Christ  in  the  communion,  and 
denouncing  as  idolatrous  the  worship  of  images  and  saints. 
When  the  sentence  of  excommunication  was  read  against 
them,  John  Corneford,  filled  with  holy  zeal  against  the 
blasphemous  abominations  that  they  had  good  cause  to  hope 
were  now  about  to  be  expelled  from  this  weary  land,  thus 
uttered  a  counter-excommunication.  "  In  the  name  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  Son  of  the  Most  Mighty  God,  and 
by  the  power  of  His  Holy  Spirit,  and  the  authority  of  His 
holy,  catholic,  and  apostolic  church,  we  do  here  give  into 
the  hands  of  Satan,  to  be  destroyed,  the  bodies  of  all  these 
blasphemers  and  heretics  that  do  maintain  any  error  against 
his  most  holy  word,  or  do  condemn  his  most  holy  faith  for 
heresy,  to  the  maintenance  of  any  false  church,  or  feigned 
religion  :  so  that  by  this  thy  just  judgment,  O  most  mighty 
God,  against  thine  adversaries,  thy  true  religion  may  be 
known,  to  thy  great  glory  and  our  comfort,  and  to  the  edi- 
fying of  all  our  nation.     Good  Lord,  so  be  it.    Amen." 

This  extraordinary  effusion  of  faith  and  hope  was  taken 
down  and  registered:  and  the  death  of  Mary  within  less 
than  a  week  afterwards,  could  not  but  produce  a  powerful 
effect  on  some  who  heard  it  uttered.  The  old  woman.  Tin- 
ley,  had  a  pious  son,  who  was  the  means  of  bringing  her 
to  the  knowledge  of  that  truth  for  which  she  at  last  gave 
her  body  to  the  flames.  While  yet  in  an  ignorant  and  care- 
less state,  she  met,  in  a  book  of  prayers,  with  a  quotation 
from  the  prophet  Joel,  "  It  shall  come  to  pass  in  those  days, 
saith  the  Lord,  that  I  will  pour  out  my  Spirit  upon  all 
flesh,"  &c.     This  she  took  to  her  son,  asking  him  what  it 


CONCLUSION.  331 

meant ;  and  from  his  exposition  of  the  passage  she  obtained 
the  first  gleam  of  spiritual  light,  which  God  brought  to  per- 
fect day.  The  five  martyrs,  having  prayed,  and  prepared 
themselves  for  the  slake,  besought  the  Lord  that  their  blood 
might  be  the  last  that  should  be  so  shed:  and  their  prayer 
was  granted. 

Many  interesting  notices  are  contained  in  the  valuable 
work  of  Fox,  of  those  who,  by  God's  providence,  were 
saved  from  the  fire ;  queen  Mary's  death  intervening  be- 
tween the  victims  and  the  cruel  designs  of  their  persecu- 
tors. Our  business  has  been  to  present  the  reader  with  a 
view  of  such  as  actually  suffered;  and  here  we  must  close 
the  painful  yet  joyful  task.  Painful  indeed  has  it  been,  to 
trace  the  bloody  hand  of  persecution  through  its  desolating 
work:  to  follow  God's  afflicted  saints  through  every  variety 
of  suffering,  and  to  record  their  trials  of  whom  the  world 
was  not  worthy.  Painful  it  is  to  know,  too  assuredly,  that 
the  same  enemy,  unchanged,  save  only  the  shortening  of 
his  power  compels  him  to  assume  a  more  peaceable  de- 
meanour, is  again  winding  the  fearful  snare  around  our 
rescued  church,  too  unwatchful  in  her  prolonged  security. 
Joyful  the  task  has  been,  while  the  eye  of  faith,  uplifted 
from  the  scenes  so  vividly  portrayed  by  the  venerable 
martyrologist,  was  enabled  to  behold  the  present  blessed- 
ness of  those  "  called,  and  chosen,  and  faithful"  ones,  now 
before  the  throne  of  the  Lamb,  clothed  in  white  robes,  with 
palms  in  their  hands;  or  reposing  under  the  altar,  typical 
of  their  character  as  accepted  sacrifices,  awaiting  the  ar- 
rival of  their  brethren  who  are  yet  to  be  slain,  even  as 
they  were.  And  joyful  it  indeed  is,  to  possess  this  great 
privilege  of  sounding,  in  our  humble  measure,  an  alarum 
to  the  children  of  God  in  this  perilous  day:  to  set  before 
them  a  faithful  representation  of  what  has  been,  that  they 
may  better  understand  what  will  yet  be,  if  they  arouse  not 
themselves  to  greater  watchfulness  and  more  earnest  prayer. 
The  story  is  told,  the  warning  is  given :  and  may  God,  the 
Father  of  lights,  by  the  operation  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  deep- 
ly engrave  it  on  the  heart,  memory,  and  conscience  of 
every  professing  Protestant,  for  his  dear  Son's  sake ! 
Amen. 


THE   Ein>. 


332 


A  TABLE 

OF  THE  VARIOUS  MARTYRDOMS  RECORDED  IN  THESE 
VOLUxMES. 

WITH  THE  PLACE  AND  DATE  OF  THEIR  OCCURRENCE. 

Those  marked  t  are  supposed  to  have  been  privately  murdered. 


NAME. 

PLACE. 

DATE. 

William  Sautre,  Priest, 

Smithfield, 

Feb. 

1401 

J.  Badby,  Tailor, 

Mar. 

1409 

J.  Claydon,  Currier, 

Feb. 

1415 

Lord  Cobham, 

St.  Giles'  Fields, 

,Feb. 

1418 

W.  Taylor,  Priest, 

Smithfield, 

Mar. 

1422 

R.  Pecock,-\  Bishop, 

Prison, 

— 

1457 

J.  BouGHTON,  Gentlewoman, 

.  Smithfield, 

1494 

\V.  SWEETI>G,  }    n 

,   „                     i  Poor  men, 
J.  Brewster,    ^ 

Oct. 

1511 

R.  }ivyyB,'\ Merchant  tailor,  Lollards'  Tower 

,Dec. 

1514 

J.  Browne, 

Ashford, 

1517 

Pat.  Hamilton,  Abbot, 

St,  Andrews, 

Mar. 

1527 

T.  Bilney,  Priest, 

Norwich, 

1531 

R.  Bayfield,  Priest, 

Smithfield, 

Nov. 

1531 

J.  Tewksbury, ZeafAerseZZer,       

Dec. 

1531 

J.  Bennet,  Priest, 

Exeter, 

Jan. 

1532 

J,  Bainham,  Lawyer, 

Smithfield, 

April 

I  1532 

J.  Frith,  Scholar, 

July 

1533 

Andrew  Hewet,  Tailor, 

— 

— 

W.  Tindal,  Priest, 

Filford, 

1536 

J.  Lambert,  Priest, 

Smithfield, 

1538 

—  Puttenden, 

Suffolk, 

July 

1538 

W.  Leiton,  Monk, 

Norwich, 

— 

N.  Peke, 

Ipswich, 

— 

T.  Forret,  Priest, 

Edinburgh, 

1540 

R.  Barnes,  D.  D. 

Smithfield, 

July 

1541 

J.  Garret,  Priest, 
W.  Hierome,  Priest, 


LIST    OF    MARTYRS. 


333 


J.  Porter, t  Newgate, 

—  SoMERS,  Merchant,  Tower, 
R,  Testwood,  Citizen,  Windsor, 

H.  FiLMER,  Churchwarden,         

A.  Pierson,  Priest,  

A.  Damlip,  Priest,  Calais, 

G.  WisEiiEART,  Gentleman,  St,  Andrew's, 

—  Kerby,  Labourer,  Ipswich, 
R.  Clarke,  Labourer,  Bury, 
Anne  Askew,  Gentlewoman,  Smithfield, 

A.  Belenian,  Priest,  

J.  Adams,  Tailor,  

J.  Lascelles,  Gentleman,  

A.  Wallace,  Edinburgh, 

W.  Gardiner,  Merchant,  Lisbon, 

Lady  Jane  Grey,  Tower  Hill, 

J.  Rogers,  Priest,  Smithfield, 

L.  Saunders,  Priest,  

Dr.  J.  Hooper,  Bishop,  Gloucester, 

T.  ToMKiNs,  Weaver,  Smithfield, 

Dr.  R.  Taylor,  Priest,  Aldenham, 

W.  Hunter,  Apprentice,  Brentwood, 

T.  Higbed,  Gentleman,  Horndean, 

T.  Causton,  Gentleman,  Raleigh, 

W.  Pygot,  Butcher,  Braintree, 

S.  Knight,  Barber,  Maiden, 

J.  Laurence,  Priest,  Colchester, 

Dr.  R.  Farrar,  Bishop,  Carmarthen, 
Rawlins  White, i^is/iermara, Cardiff, 

G.  Marsh,  Farmer,  Chester, 

W.  Flower,  Priest,  Westminster, 
J.  Cardmaker,  Prebendary,  Smithfield, 

J.  Warne,  Upholsterer,  

J.  Simpson,  Husbandman,  Rochford, 

J.  Ardley,  Husbandman,  Raleigh, 

T.  Hawkes,  Gentleman,  Cox  Hall, 

T.  Watts,  Linendrape.r,  Chelmsford, 

J.  Osmond,  Fuller,  Manningtree, 

W.  Bamford,  Weaver,  Harwich, 
N.  Chamberlain,  Weaver,  Colchester, 

J.  Bradford,  Priest,  Smithfield, 

J.  Leaf,  Apprentice,  

J.  Bland,  Priest,  Canterbury, 


Date. 

July     1541 
1544 


1545 

1546 

June    1546 


1550 

1552 

Jan.     1554 

Feb.     1555 


Mar.      — 


April    — 
May    1555 

June      — 
July      — 


334 


LIST    OF    MARTYRS. 


J.  Frankish,  Priest, 
N.  Sheterden, 
H.  Middleton, 
N.  Hall,  Bricklayer, 

C.  Waid,  Weaver, 

D.  Carver,  Brewer, 

J.  Launder,  Husbandman, 

T.  IvESON,  Carpenter, 

J.  Abbes, 

J .  Denley,  Gentleman, 

J.  Newman,  Fewterer, 

P .  Pack  INGHAM, 

R.  Hook, 

W.  CoKER, 

W.  Hopper, 

H.  Lawrence, 

R.  Collier, 

R.  Wright, 

W.  Store, 

Eliz.  VVarne,  Widow, 

G.  Tankerfield,  Cook, 

R.  Smith,  Artist, 

S.  Harwood, 

T.  Fust, 

W.  Hale, 

G.  King, 

T.  Leyes, 

J.  Wade, 

W,  Andrew, 

R.  Samuel,  Priest, 

W.  Allen,  Labourer, 

R.  Cox, 

J.  Cobb,  Butcher, 

G.  Catmer, 

R.  Streater, 

A.  BuRWARD, 

G.  Breadbridge, 

J,  Tutty, 

T.  Hayward, 

J.  Gareway, 

R.  Glover,  Gentleman, 

C.  Bungay,  Capper, 

W.  WoLSEY,  Constable, 


DATE. 

July  1555 


Rochester,  — 

Dartford,  — 

Lewes,  — 

Steyning,  — 

Chichester,  — 

Bury,  Aug. 

Uxbridge,  — 
Saffron  Walden,     — 

Uxbridge,  — 

Chichester,  — 

Canterbury,  — 


Strafford, 

St.  Alban's, 

Uxbridge, 

Stratford, 

Ware, 

Barnet, 

Newgate, 


Ipswich, 

Walsingham, 

Yoxford, 

Thetford, 

Canterbury, 


Lichfield, 
Lichfield, 
Coventry, 


Sept. 


Ely, 


LIST    OF    MARTYRS. 


335 


R.  Pygot,  Painter, 

Dr.  N.  Ridley,  Bishop, 

H.  Latimer,  Bishop, 

J.  Roper,     i 

G.  Webbe,  >  Gentlemen, 

G.  Parke,  ) 

W.  Wiseman, f  Cloth-work. 

J.  Gore, 

J.  Philpof,  Archdeacon, 

T.  Whittle,  Priest, 

B.  Green,  Lawyer, 
J.  TuDsoN,  Artificer, 
T.  Went,  Artificer, 
T.  Browne, 
Isabel  Foster, 
Joan  Warne, 

J.  LoMAS, 

Agnes  Smith,  Widow, 

Anne  Albright, 

Joan  Catmer, 

Joan  Sole, 

Dr.  J.  Cranmer,  Archhp., 

Agnes  Potten, 

Joan  Trunchfield, 

J.  Maundrel,  Farmer, 

J.  Spicer,  Mason, 

W.  Coberley,  Tailor, 

R.  Drakes,  Priest, 

W.  Tyms,  Curate, 

R.  Spurge,  Sheerman, 

T.  Spurge,  Fuller, 

J.  Cavel,  Weaver, 

G.  Ambrose,  Fuller, 

J.  Harpole, 

Joan  Beach,  Widow, 

J.  Hullier,  Priest, 

C.  Lyster.  Husbandman, 
J.  Mace,  Apothecary, 

J.  Spencer,  Weaver, 
S.  Joyne,  Sawyer, 
R.  Nicholas,  Weaver, 
J.  Hammond,  Tanner, 
H.  Laverock,  a  cripple, 


Ely, 
Oxford, 


Sept. 
Oct. 


1555 


Canterbury,  Nov. 


Lollards'  Tower,  Dec. 
Colchester  Gaol,  — 
Smithfield,  — 
Jan. 


1556 


Canterbury,  — 


Oxford, 
Ipswich, 


March    — 


Salisbury, 


Smithtield, 


April  — 


Rochester, 

Cambridge, 
Colchester, 


Stratford-le-bow,     May 


336 


LIST    OF    MARTYRS. 


J.  Apprice,  Poor  and  blind, 

Katherine  Hut,  Widow, 

Joan  Horns, 

Elizabeth  Tackvel, 

Margaret  Ellis, 

T.  Drowry,  a  blind  boy, 

T.  Croker,  Bricklayer, 

T.  Spicer,  ^ 

J.  Denny,    V  Labourers. 

E.  Poole,    ) 

W.  Sleck, 

T.  Harland,  Carpenter, 

J.  Oswald,  Husbandman, 

T.  AviNGTON,  Turner, 
T.  Read,  Labourer, 

W.  Adherall,  Priest, 

J.  Clement,  Wheelwright, 

H.  Adlington,  Sawyer, 

R.  Jackson,  Servant, 
L.  Parman,  Smith, 
L.  Cawch,  Broker, 
H,  Wye,  Brewer, 
J.  Derrifall,  Labourer, 
W.  Hallywell,  Smith, 
J.  BowYER,  Weaver, 
Ct.  Scarles,  Tailor, 
E.  Hurst,  Labourer, 
J.  RouTH,  Labourer, 
Eliz.  Pepper, 
Agnes  George, 
R.  Bernard,  Labourer, 
A,  Foster,  Husbandman, 
R.  Lawson,  Weaver, 
J.  Fortune,  Blacksmith, 
J.  Careless,  Weaver, 
J.  Palmer,  Scholar, 

T.  ASKIN, 

J.  GwiN, 

T.  Moor,  Servant, 

T,  Dungate, 

J.  Foreman, 

—  Tree,  Widow, 

Joan  Waste,  Blind  Girl, 


PLACE.  DATE. 

Stratford-le-bow,    May  1556 
Smiihfield,  —       — 


Newgate, 
Gloucester, 

Beccles, 


King's  Bench,  —       — 

Lewes,  June      — 


King's  Bench,  — 

King's  Bench,         — 
Stratford,  — 


Bury, 


Norwich,  — 

King's  Bench,      July 
Newbury,  — 


Leicester, 
Grinstead, 


Derby, 


Aug.     — 


list  of  martyrs. 


337 


NAME. 

PLACE. 

DATE. 

E.  Sharpe, 

Bristol, 

Sept.  1556 

J.  Hart, 

T,  Ravensdale, 

***  ***,  Shoemaker, 

Mayfield, 

—       — 

***  ***,  Currier, 
***  ***,  Carpenter, 
J.  Horn, 

Bristol, 
Wotton, 

—       — 

***  ***,  A  woman, 

***  ***,  Shoemaker, 

J.  Clark,             )  Starved 

Northampton, 
Cant.  Castle, 

Oct.       — 

Nov.       — 

D.  Chittenden,  ^  to  death 
W  Foster,         ^  ^^^^^^^ 

J   Archer,          >  ,o  i?ea<^ 
Alice  Potkins,  J 
S.  Kempe, 
W.  Waterer, 

Cant.  Castle, 

Nov.    1556 

'. 

Canterbury, 

Jan.  1557 

W.  Prouting, 
W.  LowicK, 
T.  Hudson, 
W.  Hay, 
N.  -Final, 
M.  Bradbridge, 
T.  Stevens, 

Ashford, 

—       — 

Wye, 



J.  Philpot, 

—       — 

T.  Losebey, 

Smithfield, 

April  — 

H.  Ramsay, 
T.  Thurtell, 
Margt.  Hyde, 

___       

Agnes  Stanley, 

—       — 

W.  MORANT, 

St.  George's  Fi. 

May   — 

S.  Gratwick, 

John  King, 

Joan  Bradbridge, 

Maidstone, 

June    — 

W.  Appleby, 

Petronel  Appleby,  his  wife 

J 



E.  Allin,  Miller, 
Cath.  Allin,  His  wife. 

^"~       "~" 

—  Mannings, 

—       — 

Elizabeth,  A  blind  girl. 

—       — 

R.  Sharpe,  Weaver, 

Bristol, 

—       — 

T.  Hale,  Shoemaker, 
J.  Fishcook, 
N.  White, 

Canterbury, 

—       — 

MARTYROLOGY. VOL.    II. 

29 

338  LIST    OF    MARTYRS. 


N.  Pardue,  Canterbury,  June  1557 

Alice  Benden,  

—  Wilson,  Married  woman,     

Mary  Bradbridge,  Widow,      

Barb.  Final,  Widow,  

R.  Woodman,  Lewes,  

G.  Stevens,  June  1557 

W.  Maynard,  

A.  HosMAN,  Maynard^s  serv.,      

Thomasine  Wood,  the  same,       

J.  Morris,  

Marg.  Morris,  His  mother,        

D.  Burgess,  

—  AsHDOwNE,  Married  wo.,       

—  Grave,  the  same,  

—  Ambrose,  Maidstone  Gaol,  —  — 
R.  Lush,  Bath  Prison,  —  — 
S.  Miller,                               Norwich,  July  — 

Eliz.  Cooper,  Married  wo.        —  

W.  Munt,  Husbandman,       Colchester  Aug.  — 

Alice  Munt,  His  wife,  

Rose  Allen,  Their  davght.       -^  

J.  Johnson,  Labourer,  

W.  BoNGEOR,  Glazier,  —  

T.  Benold,  Chandler,  —  

W.  Purchas,  _  

Agnes  Silverside,  Wirfou), —  

H.  EwRiNG,  Married  wo,  —  

E.  Folkes,  Maid  servant,  —  

T.  Benton,  Weaver,  Bristol,  —  — 

G.  Eagles,  Tailor,  Chelmsford,  —  — 

R.  Crashfield,  Norwich, 

—  Fryer,  

G.  Eagles'  Sister,  Rochester,  —  — 

Joyce  Lewis,  Gentlewoman,  Lichfield,  —  — 

R.  Allerton,  Islington,  Sept.  — 

J.  AUSTOO,  

Marg.  Austoo,  His  wife,  —  — 

R.  Roth,  —  

Marg.  Thurston,  Widow,  Colchester,  —  — 

A.  BoNGEOR,  Married  wo.  —  — 

J,  Noyes,  Shoemaker,  Laxfield,  —  — 

C.  Ormes,  Married  woman,  Norwich,  —  — 


LIST    OF    MARTYRS.  339 


—  Athoth,  Priest,                 Chichester,  Sept.  iSf  Oct. 

J.  Foreman,  Oct.    1557 


J.  Warner,  —  — 

C.  Graver,  —  — 

N.  HoLDEN,  

J.  Oswald,  —  — 

J.  Morrice,  —  — 

J.  ASHDON,  

T.  AviNGTON,  

D.  BURGIS,  

T.  Ravensdale,  —  — 

J.  Miles,  —  — 

J.  Hart,  —  — 

T.  Harland,  —  — 

T.  Dougate,  —  — 

Ann  Try,  —  — 

Marg.  Morrice,  —  — 

J.  Spurdance,  Queen's  serv.  Norwich,  Nov.  — 

J.  Hallingdale,  Smilhfield,  —  — 

W.  Sparrow,  —  — 

R.  Gibson,  Gentleman,  —  — 

J.  Rough,  Priest,  Dec.  — 

Margaret  Mearing,  —  — 

C.  Symson,  Deacon,  March  1558 

H.  Fox,  —  — 

J.  Devenish,  —  — 

W.  NicHOL,  Haverfordwest,       —  — 

W.  Seaman,  Husbandman,  Norwich,  May  — 

T.  Hudson,  Glover,  —  — 

T.  Carman,  —  — 

W.  Haines,  Colchester,  —  — 

R.  Day,  —  — 

C.  George,  Married  worn.          —  — 

Walter  Mill,  Priest,  St.  Andrew's,         —  — 

H.  Pond,  Smithfield,  June  — 

R.  Eastland,  —  — 

R.  SOUTHAM,  —  — 

M.  RiCARBY,  —  — 

J.  Floyd,  — —  —  — 

J.  HoLLIDAT,  

R.  Holland,  —  — 

R.  WiLLEs,  Brentford,  July  — 

S.  Cotton,  —  — 


340  LIST    OF    MARTYRS. 


R.  Dynes,  Brentford,  July  1558 

S.  Wright,                                   —  — 

J.  Slade,                                        —  — 

W.  Pikes,                                      —  — 

R.  Yeoman,  Priest,  Norwich,  —  — 

J.  Dale,  Weaver,  Bury  Gaol,  —  — 

J.  Alcock,  Servant,  Newgate,  —  — 

T.  Benbridge,  Gerdleman,  Smithfield,  —  — 

J.  Cooke,  Sawyer,  Bury,  Aug.  — 

R.  Miles,  Sheerman,                   —  — 

A.  LajVE,  Wheelwright,              —  — 

J.  Ashley,                                     —  — 

A.  GoucH,  Ipswich,  Nov.  — 

Alice  Driver,                            —  — 

P.  HuMFREY,  Bury,  —  — 

J.  David,                                       —  — 

H.  David, 


E.  Prest,  Married  Woman,  Exeter, 

J.  Corneford,  Canterbury, 

J.  Hurst,  

C.  Brown,  

Alice  Snoth,  

Katharine  Tynley,  


■The  noble  army  of  Martyrs  praise  Thee.' 


